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Innovation Pays Off

30 March 1999

Innovation Pays Off

    FORT MYERS, Fla.--March 30, 1999--The Lee County Department of Transportation, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR), a department of the University of South Florida, announced the first dramatic results from the Variable Pricing Project.
    Project Manager, Chris Swenson said: "The results are exactly what we had hoped for. We are seeing significant decreases in traffic during our peak traffic times with corresponding increases during the off-peak traffic times." "Lee County citizens have made significant changes in their driving patterns due to the variable toll. It appears this innovative experiment is showing very positive results," said Lee County Commissioner John Albion, who spearheaded the effort to obtain the Federal Congestion Pricing grant back in 1993.
    By varying the tolls during the Variable Pricing discount times, 6:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and offering a toll discount of 50%, the County provides an incentive to motorists who choose to travel at off-peak times, thereby reducing the number of vehicles traveling during the rush hours. This reduction in tolls is unparalleled. Most strategies increase prices during peak hours.
    Variable Pricing, funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Value Pricing Pilot Program, supports innovative market-based strategies to reduce traffic congestion on the nation's roadways. The Federal Highway Administration is providing $16 million in federal funds, matched by a total of $4 million in funds from FDOT and Lee County.
    Lee County in partnership with CUTR to perform data collection and evaluation efforts, have tabulated the latest results for the project. Variable Pricing has been implemented in Lee County to manage traffic congestion and improve the quality of the environment in one of the highest population growth centers in the Nation. For information call 941/931-0100, or visit www.LeeWayinfo.com.

    NOTE: COLOR DATA CHARTS ARE AVAILABLE.