Evaluating The Major Holidays Toil-Free Program for Small Passenger Vehicles in China: A Case Study of Shanghai

摘要

In China, the policy of "Loaning to build roads and then charging to pay the loan" has contributed much to its successful highway construction, but in the future tolls will no longer only be considered as financial resources, but a way to adjust traffic flow. Against that backdrop, the toll-free program for small passenger vehicles during major holidays was issued by State Council of The People's Republic of China on July 24, 2012, which is a key step in the transitional stage of China's toll-road policies. This paper gives an objective and comprehensive assessment based on aggregate statistical data of toll-free program. The results show that despite the gridlock at the very first of the implementation of the program, the toll-free highways proved to basically ensure smooth holiday travels and brought some positive effects.