The short-run impact of gas prices fluctuations on toll road use

This research examined the impact of changing gas prices on travelers' choice of routes, focusing on toll route usage. Travel demand elasticity estimates for toll routes with respect to gas price were inelastic and mostly negative. Additionally, the average elasticity (−0.06) was smaller than those found in the literature for non-toll facilities (average approximately −0.25). This would indicate that either (a) toll facility users were less impacted by changes in gas price, or more likely, (b) some travelers were switching to toll facilities as gas prices rise. Thus, toll facilities were more insulated from downturns in traffic volumes resulting from increases in gas price.