Seasonal Variation in the Environmental Effects of Toll Collection

Abstract

The toll collection process creates pollution beyond what would be produced by an automobile transiting at normal highway speeds. Research shows that electronic toll collection (ETC) produces less pollution than manual toll collection. However, many toll collection systems are subject to seasonal fluctuations in demand. As a result, the percentage of road users taking advantage of ETC changes throughout the year. Any decrease in the ETC participation rate will increase the amount of pollution created. This article quantifies the pollution effects of this seasonality. The authors use the Garden State Parkway (GSP) in New Jersey as a case study. Because of seasonal changes in ETC participation rates, they find that the quantity of pollution created by toll collection on the GSP increases significantly during the summer months. Unfortunately for the state of New Jersey, that is the time of year when it is historically in noncompliance with the Clean Air Act.