Managed Lanes Overview Dr Adrian Moore Vice President Reason Foundation httpreasonorg 1 Key Issues OUTLINE What are Managed Lanes Where Are Managed Lanes Nationwide Key concerns about Managed Lanes ID: 291421
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Slide1
February 26, 2012
Managed Lanes Overview
Dr. Adrian Moore
Vice President
Reason Foundation
http://reason.orgSlide2
1
Key Issues: OUTLINE
What are Managed Lanes?
Where Are Managed Lanes Nationwide
Key concerns about Managed Lanes
Benefits of Managed LanesSlide3
2
What Are Managed Lanes?
Specialized, rather than General Purpose, lanes
Variable pricing, to keep traffic flowing uncongested
Usually limited to cars, vans, buses
Two ways to create:
Conversion of under-performing HOV lanes
Creation of new lanes (added capacity)Slide4
3
Managed Lanes Projects, 2011Slide5
4
Managed Lanes Networks
In Long Range Transportation Plan already:
Atlanta
Dallas
Houston
San Diego
San Francisco
Seattle
Being considered:
Los Angeles
Miami-Dade/Broward/Palm Beach Counties
Washington, DCSlide6
5
Typical Concerns about Managed Lanes
“Lexus Lanes”
“Paying twice”
Discouraging carpooling
Rights of way, adequate roomSlide7
6
The “Lexus Lanes” Issue
Data on commuter attitudes (San Diego, Seattle)
Data on usage (91X, I-15, I-394, SR 167)
High income uses somewhat more frequently
But all economic sectors use lanes at least some times when the need to
Women slightly more likely to be users
Win-win (GP lanes benefit, too)
Common-sense comparisons
(restaurants, airlines, Amtrak, Postal Service)Slide8
WSDOT Data on Managed Lanes Usage
7Slide9
8
“We’ve Already Paid For These Lanes”
Usually applies only to conversions
Best answer: HOV-2 not working well
If empty lanes, taxpayers not getting full value from expensive pavement.
If congested, motorists aren’t getting promised benefits.
If new capacity, the money is seldom there for new GP lanes, or concerns they will simple become congested quickly. Slide10
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Do Managed Lanes Decrease Carpooling?
No evidence of carpooling decrease
Significant increase on I-15 MLs in San Diego
Conversion definitely reduces violators
Inevitable shift from HOV-2 to HOV-3 in congested
corridors might reduce carpools in the ML itself.Slide11
Rights of Way/Room to Expand
Tampa’s elevated
reversible express
toll
lanes—6 lanes in 6 ftSlide12
11
Benefits of Managed Lanes
Optimize use of all roadway capacity
Increase throughput compared with GP lanes during peak periods
Enables Bus Rapid Transit
More choices for travelers
(“congestion insurance”)
Reduce emissions of increase travel
Expand economic opportunity
Generates revenue to pay at least part of costs
Widespread public and political acceptance.Slide13
Current long-range transportation plans don’t reduce congestion
Metro LRTP $ Transit TTIArea %Transit Mode Share 2003 2030
2005-2030 2003 2030
Atlanta 38% 6.7 8.4 1.46 1.85
Denver 27% 5.0 6.4 1.40 1.80
Los Angeles 58% 4.8 7.4 1.75 1.94
Miami 68% 4.3 5.0 1.42 1.84
SF Bay 64% 6.9 7.3 1.54 1.86
Honolulu 50% 5.7* 8.9 1.19 1.31*2000Slide14
I-95 Miami Managed Lanes: A real success story by any measure
Daily toll traffic now exceeds 50,000 paying vehicles
20% of total daily traffic (higher in peaks)
Annual revenue tracking at about $18-20 million
Phase I only; southbound direction only opened for 5 months
Strong return on project that cost less than $100 million to convert… including toll systems and dynamic signing
Express Lanes above 45 MPH over 99.5% of the time
Cut overall average peak period travel times
in half for all users, and by two thirds for Express Lane users!
13Slide15
Speed (mph)
Travel Speeds
(Northbound - PM Peak Period)
Travel Time (8 mile trip)
Average Peak Period Time Savings = 14 Minutes
Travel Time
(Northbound Peak Period)
Impacts on Peak Period Speeds and Travel Times
After Conversion
Before Conversion
14Slide16
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Synergy of Managed Lanes andBus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Value-priced lane is
virtual equivalent
of an exclusive fixed
guideway
.
Pricing limits vehicle flow to what’s compatible with LOS C conditions.
Reliable high speed is sustainable long-term, thanks to pricing.
Miami has implemented on new I-95 Express Lanes.
S.F. Bay Area planning
regionwide
express bus on its HOT Network.Slide17
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Managed Lanes
Main Lanes
BRT Station
Direct Access Road
To Arterial
Direct Transit
Access Ramps
I-15 Transit StationSlide18
17
Choices
Now
Rail Transit
Managed Lanes
Slow buses
Slow
buses
Slow buses
Congested
roads
Congested roads
Congested lanes
Rail Transit
Free flowing Managed
Lane
Bus Rapid TransitSlide19
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Emission Reductions FromSan Francisco Bay Area NetworkSlide20
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Economic Benefits of Atlanta’s ML Network (2030)
Employment-shed
(
with
Managed Lanes)
Employment-shed
(without Managed Lanes)
< 45 min.
45 – 90 min.
Travel Time
Opportunity for 196% increase in workers
within 45 minutes of DowntownSlide21
Approve
88%
Don’t
Know
1%
Disapprove
11%
Don’t
Know
6%
Disapprove
28%
Approve
66%
FasTrak Customer
Other I-15 Users
Approval of Managed Lane Program On I-15
20Slide22
Approval of Program by Group
21
Age
Percent Approval
Ethnicity
Income ($000’s)Slide23
91 Express: A popular option
Over 150,000 Vehicles equipped with Transponders
Typically only one in five used in a given day
15-20% of total traffic uses toll lanes
Much higher share in peak hours
Preset Variable toll rate structure
Tolls range from about $1.00 to $10.00 for 10 mile trip
Very high level of public approval
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23
Ethnicity
Percent Agree
Income ($000’s)
“People who drive alone should be able to use the I-15 Express Lanes
for a fee?”….
Agree or Disagree?Slide25
Somewhat
Agree
25%
Somewhat
Disagree
5%
Strongly
Disagree
5%
Somewhat
Agree
31%
Somewhat
Disagree
11%
Strongly
Disagree
14%
Don’t
Know
2%
Strongly Agree
65%
Strongly
Agree
42%
FasTrak Customer
Other I-15 Users
FasTrak
Program Reduces Congestion On I-15
24Slide26
Don’t
Know
5%
Extend
Express
Lanes
37%
Add
Regular
Lanes
26%
Build
Other
Roads
21%
Add
Transit
11%
Extend
Express
Lanes
49%
Add
Regular
Lanes
24%
Build
Other
Roads
13%
Add
Transit
10%
Don’t
Know
4%
FasTrak Customer
Other I-15 Users
Single Most Effective Way
to Reduce Congestion On I-15
25Slide27
Summary
Managed Lanes have a track record of:
Improved Flow and reduced congestion
Improved Bus transit operations
Very popular where they are
in place
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