Other Civil and Environmental Engineering Commons^™

A Framework And Analytical Approach To Evaluate Alternative Vehicle Miles Traveled (Vmt) Fee Systems, Elizabeth V. Ebacher

Doctoral Dissertations

Since the fuel tax is a dwindling source of revenue, states need to find alternative funding sources. A vehicle miles traveled (VMT) fee has received serious consideration from a number of states and the federal government. What is missing from the VMT fee consideration is a framework for developing VMT fee systems and an analytical approach with which to study how well a proposed system conforms to the policies promulgated in the framework. This research strives to fill that void. The framework developed presents five areas of importance in VMT fee systems: 1. Revenue sufficiency; 2. Revenue stability; 3. Environmental …

Route Choice Behavior In Risky Networks With Real-Time Information, Michael D. Razo

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

This research investigates route choice behavior in networks with risky travel times and real-time information. A stated preference survey is conducted in which subjects use a PC-based interactive maps to choose routes link-by-link in various scenarios. The scenarios include two types of maps: the first presenting a choice between one stochastic route and one deterministic route, and the second with real-time information and an available detour. The first type measures the basic risk attitude of the subject. The second type allows for strategic planning, and measures the effect of this opportunity on subjects' choice behavior.

Results from each subject are …

Computer-Assisted Emergency Evacuation Planning Using Transcad: Case Studies In Western Massachusetts, Steven P. Andrews

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Disasters, ranging from manmade events to natural occurrences, can happen anywhere on the planet, and their consequences can range from economic loss to catastrophic loss of life. Determining how the transportation system fares in the face of these disasters is important so that proper planning can take place before, rather than after, an event has happened. Modeling the transportation system gives operators the ability to discover bottlenecks, to determine the possible benefit of using lane reversals, and to find out the influence of evacuation speed on system efficiency. Models have already been created that are able to model some of …