Road to price: User perspectives on road pricing in transition country

Abstract

Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), a country in transition, is currently implementing motorway pricing schemes due to the financial constraints. Considering the importance of user perspectives for a successful implementation of a road pricing scheme, and a lack of research in the South East Europe (SEE), drivers in BiH were surveyed. Total sample includes 15,321 respondents. Results indicate that 19% of respondents are unwilling to pay for road pricing, including a low average estimate for road tolls. In addition, the results provide comprehensive analysis of willingness-to-pay and willingness-to-accept, accounting for day of the week, vehicle origin, trip purpose, roadway use frequency, and income. The results are further interpreted in the context of a transition country, with high percentage of low income citizens, and lack of trust in public institutions. Planners can use the findings to determine the road toll price by relying on both willingness-to-pay and willingness-to-accept values, while also aiming for financial sustainability. In order to provide recommendations for planning and policy learning in SEE, discussion provides recommendations for further analysis that should account for both economic and socio-political aspects. Recommendations include questions such as how should the burden of charges be allocated, how should the toll revenue be used, and what actions planners and politicians should take.