Allocation Criteria for Increasing Electronic Toll Collection Gates on Freeways Determined Using Simulation Analysis

Abstract

In Taiwan, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system for freeway toll plazas that commenced operation in February 2006 will operate on all freeways by 2014. When the ETC system was first implemented, each toll plaza was allocated 1 small-vehicle ETC gate and 1 large-vehicle ETC gate. Determining how to allot the gates to ETC and manual toll collection when the number of ETC vehicles increases is crucial. By conducting a simulation using the toll plaza simulation model, the authors observed that 1 ETC gate for passenger cars had to be added to the small toll plaza when the traffic exceeded 1,450 vehicles/hr/gate. The medium and large toll plazas required 1 more ETC gate for passenger cars when the traffic exceeded 1,600 vehicles/hr/gate, whereas 1 non-ETC gate for passenger cars could be removed.