Ingår i: EPAM 2012: Malmö, Sweden, 5–7 September: 4th European pavement and asset management conference

According to the Swedish government, cost benefit analysis will be used in the transport sector not only for investment but also in the operations and maintenance area. The aim with this project was to find out how motorists' monetary ride quality scores vary according to different maintenance standards. The general public perception of a good road is one that provides a smooth ride. Consequently, it is desirable to determine the ride quality of the pavement deriving from roughness characteristics. The car users’ perception of ride quality must be expressed in monetary terms in order to make cost benefit calculations. The valuations should also relate to the International Roughness Index (IRI). A number of willingness to pay (WTP) studies about ride quality has already been carried out since the 1980s with varying results and methods. One reason for the willingness to pay varies between different studies may be differences in how bids are presented to respondents. One way to get around the problem with bid levels could be to measure value of time (VOT) quotes on roads with different IRI values. The theory was that motorists have higher VOT quotes on rougher roads than smoother roads. The differences between the quotes interpretation is the willingness to pay for travelling on smoother roads. The pilot studies showed that this way of obtaining monetary valuations of ride quality did not work well. The VOT scores for roads with different IRI were not significantly separated from each other. Therefore, ride quality in this project has been captured by making a more traditional Stated Preference (or Stated Choice) approach where the factors of ride quality, travel time and journey length was varied or ride quality, travel time and travel cost. The survey design allowed the ride quality valuation to be expressed in monetary terms. Alternatively, the valuation was measured as the detour, in time or length, as the motorist is willing to drive to go on a comfortable way instead of a path of damage. The main survey included 1451 people in a web survey. The respondents had to consider roads with different IRI measures that are typical for low-, medium-and high-traffic roads. The obtained estimates have been used to calculate respondents' willingness to pay to avoid each type of road damage based on fundamental assumptions about value of travel time and variable car cost. The analysis shows that WTP to avoid driving on roads with some cracks and patch repairs is 2.3 SEK per 10 kilometres, WTP to avoid some cracks and occasional rut is 1.9 SEK per 10 kilometres and the willingness to pay to avoid roads with ruts is 1.5 SEK per 10 kilometres. The calculated valuation could be used for cost benefit analysis in the maintenance sector or as indicators on when it is necessary for new pavement coating according to the road users.