Microgeographic speed, reliability, and traffic externalities

This paper estimates congestion externalities on a broad sample of roads in England’s capital region. A fixed effects approach that compares across times of day finds that 10% more traffic increases travel time by 4%, erodes reliability, and finds smallest marginal effects on high-capacity roads. I incorporate both expected travel time and reliability into a model of congestion externalities. Combining the model with travel data, I find that Central London’s Congestion Charge exceeds tolled drivers’ external costs if they only reflect travel time and reliability. Despite the large toll in London’s city centre, I find that deadweight loss in untolled parts of the city remains substantial, and that accounting for reliability increases deadweight loss by as much as 55%. •Estimate external costs of congestion in London, England.•Include costs of expected travel time and day-to-day reliability.•Travel time externalities below level of London’s Congestion Charge.•Traffic’s effects on reliability substantially increase costs of congestion.