Discrete Choice Model for Defining a Parking-Fee Policy on Island of Ortigia, Siracusa

Abstract

The island of Ortigia is a small extremity of the urban fabric of the city of Siracusa, located in the eastern part of Sicily. The island forms part of the historic city center and is characterized by its own particular urban configuration, representing a kind of “suburban historic center.” Apart from being the site of some central business district activities, it is particularly attractive to tourists for which reason it would be desirable to eliminate traffic from the island, as far as possible. An almost total closure to traffic was hypothesized and applied and a methodology was also developed, based on a random utility model for discrete user choice, thanks to surveys carried out among drivers. The model allowed a distribution mechanism of car-park use to be established on the basis of which a redefinition of parking fees was effected.