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A cost-benefit analysis of tunnel investment and tolling alternatives in Antwerp

Author

Listed:
  • Proost Stef

    (K.U.Leuven-Center for Economic Studies; UCL - CORE)

  • Van der Loo Saskia

    (K.U.Leuven-Center for Economic Studies)

  • Andre de Palma

    (Université de Cergy-Pontoise, ENPC and Member of Institut Universitaire de France, THEMA, 33,)

  • Lindsey Robin

    (Department of Economics, University of Alberta)

Abstract

A proposal has been made to build a new tunnel under the Scheldt river near the centre of Antwerp in order to relieve traffic congestion on the ring road and in an existing tunnel. The new tunnel is expected to cost more than €1 billion, and tolls have been suggested to help finance construction and to manage demand. This paper conducts a preliminary cost-benefit analysis of a new tunnel and three alternative tolling schemes, and compares them with a do-nothing scenario and an option to toll the existing tunnel without building a new one. The analysis is performed using a model that was recently developed as part of the European-Union funded REVENUE project. The two tunnels are treated as imperfect substitutes, and a multi-year accounting framework is adopted that accounts for emissions, accidents and noise externalities, road damage, revenues accruing to the national and regional governments from existing transport user charges, and the salvage value of the new tunnel. With the base-case parameter values it is found that building the tunnel is worthwhile with all three tolling regimes and yields a higher benefit than not building the tunnel and tolling the old one. Nevertheless, the net benefit from building the tunnel differs appreciably between tolling regimes, and it is sensitive to the value assumed for the marginal cost of public funds.

Suggested Citation

  • Proost Stef & Van der Loo Saskia & Andre de Palma & Lindsey Robin, 2005. "A cost-benefit analysis of tunnel investment and tolling alternatives in Antwerp," Energy, Transport and Environment Working Papers Series ete0507, KU Leuven, Department of Economics - Research Group Energy, Transport and Environment.
    • Handle: RePEc:ete:etewps:ete0507
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bruno De Borger & Stef Proost (ed.), 2001. "Reforming Transport Pricing in the European Union," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 1822.
    2. Arnott, Richard & Kraus, Marvin, 1998. "When are anonymous congestion charges consistent with marginal cost pricing?," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 67(1), pages 45-64, January.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Cited by:

    1. de Palma, André & Lindsey, Robin & Proost, Stef & Van der Loo, Saskia, 2007. "Chapter 5 Comparing alternative pricing and revenue use strategies with the MOLINO model," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 19(1), pages 111-131, January.
    2. de Palma, Andre & Marcucci, Edoardo & Niskanen, Esko & Wieland, Bernhard, 2005. "Introduction," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 31, pages 1-5.
    3. Cantos-Sánchez, Pedro & Moner-Colonques, Rafael & Sempere-Monerris, José J. & Álvarez-SanJaime, Óscar, 2011. "Viability of new road infrastructure with heterogeneous users," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 45(5), pages 435-450, June.
    4. Massiani, Jérôme & Maltese, Ila, 2022. "Thirty years of socio-economic evaluation of the Lyon–Turin High–Speed rail project," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Pedro Cantos-Sanchez & Rafael Moner-Colonques & Jose J. Sempere-Monerris & Oscar Alvarez, 2008. "Viability of a New Road Infrastructure with Heterogeneous Users in Madrid Access," Working Papers 2008-06, FEDEA.
    6. Bushansky, S., 2021. "Inefficiency of road concessions in Russia: exception or rule?," Journal of the New Economic Association, New Economic Association, vol. 50(2), pages 97-118.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    infrastructure investment; route choice; congestion; tolls;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D61 - Microeconomics - - Welfare Economics - - - Allocative Efficiency; Cost-Benefit Analysis
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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