Road traffic coordination by electronic trading

This paper suggests to use market-based techniques for road traffic coordination. In particular, the question is addressed how to make it more attractive for traffic individuals to follow the suggestions of a coordination system. The presented techniques share a common principle: drivers participate in a voluntary pool of users. They pay into this pool or receive money from this pool according to their usage of the roads. The amount of payment is determined by a predefined electronic trading procedure in which each driver participates by an automated software unit representing the individual driver’s intentions. This paper compares three different trading mechanisms. The presented techniques are advantageous for the applications dynamic route assignment and individual road clearance. Compared to traditional traffic demand management systems, market-based techniques are expected to have a higher degree of flexibility and adaptability. Another advantage is that market-based techniques are independent of a prior set-up of traffic models and analyses. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]