Formulating a methodology for modelling revealed preference discrete choice data-the selectively replicated logit estimation

There are a number of studies on modelling with Revealed Preference (RP) data. It is a traditional technique and it is based on actual market data. The method has been extensively used in transportation as a tool for predicting travel demand. Although the method constitutes a relevant analysis on the process of modelling, it suffers from limitations, mainly associated with the lack of control over the experiment, that sometimes overwhelm the model results. This work proposes and tests a methodology for estimating a more efficient binary RP sample set. The objective is to develop and test a methodology that identifies and eliminates potentially irrational choices made. Responses are evaluated according to the set of trade-offs in values of time. Having identified these individuals they are eliminated from the original sample and a new sample is created, the selectively replicated (SR) sample. Original and SR samples are then re-estimated in a tree nested logit structure.     

Commercially managed road funds: managing roads like a business,not like a bureaucracy

Nearly all countries are seriously short of revenues for investment and maintenance of roads. Improving utilization of the existing road budget has helped to narrow, but not eliminate, this financing gap. Requests for additional resources from the government's budget have fallen on deaf ears, because the road sector has grown too large to be fully-financed through general tax revenues. Government tax systems were not designed to finance major economic sectors like roads. Faced with an acute shortage of funds, many road agencies have introduced tolls on high-volume roads and have invited the private sector to build and operate such roads under concession agreements. Although this has narrowed the financing gap, tolling is only economic on a small part of the road network. Tolls have thus had a relatively small impact on the financing gap. Against this background, and mindful of the fact that roads are now 'big business' on the scale of the Fortune Global 500, a growing number of countries have started to 'bring roads into the market place, put them on a fee-for-service basis and manage them like a business.' The fee-for-service concept, though superficially like the user-pay principle and the associated road funds which became popular during the 1950s, differs from user-pay in a number of important respects. The key differences are that: (i) only road user charges go into the road fund (i.e., there are no earmarked taxes); (ii) the fund is managed by a representative board with half or more members representing road users and the business community; (iii) members are nominated by the constituencies they represent and there is an independent chairperson; (iv) financing arrangements are designed to ensure that money is not diverted from other sectors; (v) funds are managed pro-actively by a small secretariat; (vi) there are published financial regulations governing the way funds are managed; (vii) charges are adjusted regularly to meet agreed expenditure targets; and (viii) there are regular technical and financial audits. Other important characteristics are that most commercially managed road funds are managed through a separate road fund administration, funds are channeled to all roads (sometimes even to unclassified roads) and they are introduced as part of a wider agenda to commercialize road management. Some of these road funds have been set up as road public utilities under a board with powers to set their own tariffs.     

澳大利亚新型内燃摆式列车投入运营

澳大利亚昆士兰铁路(QR)于 2003 年 6 月 15 日采用世界上第一列窄轨(1 067 mm)内燃摆式列车,以改善北部沿海线路的运营等级。昆士兰铁路的凯恩斯摆式列车(CTT)是由负责设计、采购、制造、试验、试运行和项目管理的QR EDI/Walkers铁路联盟在昆士兰州马里伯勒的 Walkers工厂     

Park and ride facilities on light rail transit systems

There is now considerable interest in exploring the idea of strategic park and ride as a means of promoting the use of rail transit and encouraging a transfer of commuters from car to public transport. This is especially evident in North America, where extensive park and ride facilities have been installed on a number of light and heavy urban rail systems. There is a general consensus about the most suitable types of location for facilities, but less agreement on the development of a reliable method of forecasting demand and also on the required size of sites. Experience in practice indicates that although park and ride is attractive to commuters, schemes do not generally result in lasting reductions in highway congestion, due to rising car ownership and use and the phenomenon of generated traffic.Abbreviations Centro West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive - K&R Kiss and ride - LRT Light Rail Transit - PT Public Transport - RT Rapid Transit - TRRL Transport & Road Research Laboratory, UK