Congestion charging and car use: A review of stated preference and opinion studies and market monitoring evidence

Abstract

This paper reviews 20 published congestion pricing studies with a focus on the dimensions of the stated preference or opinion survey, especially the type of charging regime and the structure of the charge. The effectiveness and acceptability of different charging regimes, as well as behavioural responses such as changes in departure time, car use, mode, residential, and work location, are synthesised, and used to provide insights to enrich our understanding of the potential role that specific congestion pricing schemes might play in influencing behavioural change. Reviewed evidence from the monitoring of the behavioural responses associated with actual congestion charging schemes, such as reduction in car trips, shift in departure times and switch to public transport, shows that the evidence from stated preference studies aligns well with the real market evidence. We also provide recommendations on the design of future stated preference studies, emphasising the need to include a systematic treatment of all key themes identified in this paper.