DESIRE: Designs for interurban road pricing schemes in europe

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 99.0473-2

Key words (German)

Road Pricing; Verkehrstelematik; LSVA; Schwerverkehr; elektronische Gebührenerhebung; Auswirkungsanalyse; Akzeptanz; Umsetzung

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 2000-CM.10501

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 5. Frame Research Programme - 1.3.2 Sustainable mobility and intermodality

Short description (English)

See abstract

Partners and International Organizations (English)

Coordinator: TIS, Porto (P)

Abstract (English)

Brief description
The aim of the DESIRE project is to assess, through the development of realistic case studies, the prospects for inter-urban road pricing in Europe. The research seeks to deliver a set of best designs for future inter-urban road pricing schemes (IRPS) for heavy-vehicles as well as an in-depth analysis of the different aspects determining the success of the implementation of these schemes.
The objectives of the DESIRE study are:
· to provide a set of best designs for future IRPS for heavy vehicles, considering the possible future extension to individual mobility;
· to identify the aspects with determinant impact on the success of the implementation of these schemes; and
· to provide clear guidelines and recommendations for the design, financing and implementation of IRPS for heavy vehicle in the different existing regulatory and organisational settings.
A major contribution from DESIRE is to cover the gaps left by previous research, in particular the gap between economic theory (promoting differentiated and marginal cost oriented pricing structures) and practical realisation (most current toll systems are based on average cost).
The main innovative aspect of DESIRE lies in bringing into the same research the integrated views on IRPS issues, through the assessment and testing of all dimensions of the problem (horizontal approach) with the participation of entities that represent all agents with direct and indirect interests in these problems. DESIRE is organised along 6 phases with a continuous feedback from the 'real world'.
The final output of the DESIRE project will be recommendations on the application of road tolling in general and to Heavy Goods Vehicles in particular. It will highlight the conditions where such tolling is recommended, and the technologies that are more appropriate for its efficient application across the European space, as well as the institutional and legal frameworks.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 99.0473-2