Exploring the performance of road pricing implementation factors: implications for Melbourne

Road pricing is becoming a widely debated transport reform policy internationally. Many claim that road pricing has widespread benefits; contributing to a more efficient use of the road network, acting as a sustainable revenue source in the face of a declining and outdated fuel excise tax and advancing fairness and equity when it comes to accessing the road network. It is unclear how practical and implementable this transport policy is to the context of the city of Melbourne, Australia. This paper explores the specific factors in government, cities, people and policy that lead to successful implementation of road pricing. This was conducted through analysis of three successful road pricing schemes (London, Stockholm and Oregon), two that are in the process of road pricing implementation (New York & Hong Kong) and one city that experienced failed implementation (Edinburgh). These case studies were assessed based on their performance of a series of implementation factors. Overall results suggest that implementation factors such as having clear objectives of road pricing policy were of significant importance to successful implementation compared to context factors such as urban and geographic form which did not seem to influence successful implementation as heavily. A study of Melbourne was also included in the assessment. It concluded that Melbourne was not prepared for the immediate introduction of road pricing reform, rather, well placed to begin a journey towards implementation. The paper concludes with a series of policy implementation principles for Melbourne as a solution to increase its performance of implementation factors into the future.