HOT Fees and Congestion

There is an interesting story today which adds to the growing controversy over the High-Occupancy Toll Lanes in Virginia.

Toll Charges Reduce Travel Time, Traffic Jams
A smart introduction of a variable toll charge, with different rates at different departure times, reduces traffic jams. Even small toll charges can exert a large effect on the total travel time, concludes Dutch researcher Dusica Joksimovic. Joksimovic developed a simulation model that can help policy makers to estimate the consequences of various toll charges. The model predicts, where, when and how much toll must be charged for the desired policy outcomes, such as reducing the total travel time of all travellers or maximising the toll incomes (revenues). - Science Daily

If the public policy goal is to reduce congestion and better manage traffic, toll lanes can be a solution, though the public equity of them is subject to debate. This simulation model would be very interesting to run against the proposed HOT lanes on 495 and 395.