Patent ID: 7969325

Claim:
A method for applying variable thoroughfare toll rates in anticipation of an event impacting traffic flow, comprising: identifying an event occurrence; determining that the event occurrence will cause a change in a normal traffic flow amount on an impacted section of a thoroughfare; determining a future time period duration of the change in the normal traffic flow amount on the impacted section; setting a bypass-choice toll rate and a different impacted section-choice toll rate; notifying a traveler of: an identification of the impacted section of the thoroughfare in association with the impacted section-choice toll rate; a bypass choice in association with the bypass-choice toll rate; and an application of the bypass-choice toll rate and the impacted section-choice toll rate during the future time period duration; presenting the notified traveler with a choice of travelling upon the bypass choice or the impacted section, the presenting at a presentment time at least one of prior to and during the future time period; charging a toll to the traveler for using the thoroughfare as a function of the bypass-choice rate in response to the traveler choosing to travel upon the presented bypass choice; and charging a toll to the traveler for using the thoroughfare as a function of an impacted section-choice toll rate in response to the traveler choosing to travel upon the presented impacted section choice.