MobilityCoins - Tradable Credit Scheme in Transport Project Appraisal

Tradable mobility credits are considered a promising economic instrument for traffic and travel demand management; their possible role in the appraisal of transport projects, however, has not been in focus so far. Mobility credits not only have a monetary value attached, but they also carry utility information of travelers. Thus, they can moderate between the (short-term) travel demand and the (long-term) cost-benefit-analysis of supply-side measures. This role also implies that credits can express travel demands that would only emerge only if the project gets implemented. These travel demand could be different from the already familiar concepts of induced demand and rebound effects. Thus, if such a scheme gets implemented, this moderating role could further lead to the co-benefit of increased public participation and acceptance of transport projects. In this paper, we illustrate this role of tradeable mobility credits with a simple mathematical model. Traveler can spend their initially allocated credit budget for mobility, sell them to others, or redeem them as additional benefit in the appraisal of a transport project. If the benefits exceed the costs, the project gets implemented.     «

Tradable mobility credits are considered a promising economic instrument for traffic and travel demand management; their possible role in the appraisal of transport projects, however, has not been in focus so far. Mobility credits not only have a monetary value attached, but they also carry utility information of travelers. Thus, they can moderate between the (short-term) travel demand and the (long-term) cost-benefit-analysis of supply-side measures. This role also implies that credits can exp...     »