Project: #393 Insights into Equitable and Fair Congestion Pricing Strategies in a World of Shared Automated Vehicles Progress Report - Reporting Period Ending: Sept. 30, 2022 Principal Investigator: Corey Harper Status: Active Start Date: July 1, 2022 End Date: June 30, 2023 Research Type: Advanced Grant Type: Research Grant Program: FAST Act - Mobility National (2016 - 2022) Grant Cycle: 2022 Mobility21 UTC Progress Report (Last Updated: Sept. 28, 2022, 11:53 a.m.) % Project Completed to Date: 10 % Grant Award Expended: 10 % Match Expended & Document: 10 USDOT Requirements Accomplishments The purpose of this research is to assess how congestion pricing policies for shared AVs could affect mobility across demographic groups, and to develop policy recommendations that could assist policymakers in developing congestion pricing policies that promote sustainability and equity in a world of shared autonomous vehicles (AV). This project has supported the training of one graduate student who is developing a agent-based simulation tool that models travel behavior and shared AV operations. The proposed project will create an environment that links AV companies and local government to each other and to university students. Working closely with the City of Pittsburgh, PennDOT , and ArgoAI throughout this project, will provide an opportunity for students to network and learn the missions and goals of these organizations, providing them with pathways to obtain internships and higher paying jobs after graduation (e.g., Director of Public Policy). So far we have developed a sample population of the study area based on census data and metrics to assess transportation equity. We are also creating geospatial models to detail how congestion pricing policies in a world of shared AVs affects commute times across different communities. Task progress includes: Task 1: Analyze and Evaluate Socioeconomic Characteristics of Travelers in Equity Emphasis and Non-Equity Emphasis Areas (100% done) Task 2: Evaluate how congestion pricing policies for shared AVs could affect mobility for different population groups as well as system level congestion and energy use (10% done) For the next reporting period we will present preliminary results a to the City of Pittsburgh, PennDOT, and Argo AI to interact with stakeholders about the implications of our research and receive feedback. We also intend to integrate congestion pricing polices into our agent-based models in order to assess equity and system-level impacts. Results from this research will be submitted to an academic journal and presented at the Transportation Research Board Conference. Impacts The outputs of this project should help cities make more informed congestion pricing policy decisions that will lead to a more sustainable, equitable, and profitable connected and automated transportation system. This project will also increase our knowledge about how congestion pricing in a world of shared AVs will impact mobility among different sub-population groups. Other New methodologies, policy recommendations, and tools to assess how shared AV deployment policies affects congestion, equity, and AV operator profitability. Outcomes New Partners Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) Issues N/A