Level‐of‐Service Analysis of Toll Plazas on Freeway Main Lines

Abstract

Toll collection on freeway main lines can have serious repercussions on freeway operation and management. There are currently no suitable methodologies for level‐of‐service analysis of main‐line toll plazas. To bridge this gap in the state of the art of level‐of‐service analysis of highway facilities, a methodology is developed. This methodology relies heavily on a computer simulation model referred to as toll‐plaza—simulation model. The reliance on computer simulation reflects a recognition of the limitations of analytical models and the popularity and computing power of personal computers. The operating characteristics of toll plazas are examined through field observation and computer simulation. The performance of a toll gate can be significantly affected by a number of factors such as service capacity, vehicle arrival pattern, number of available gates, and driver behavior. A stable performance can generally be expected if the average queue length at a toll gate does not exceed three vehicles. An average queue length of more than 10 vehicles represents a rather unstable and undesirable operation. Average queue length and average time spent in a toll‐collection system are used as the measures of effectiveness to classify quality of service into six levels. The essential features of the recommended methodology are presented.