Managed Lanes Overview

February 26, 2012

Dr. Adrian Moore Vice President Reason Foundation http://reason.org

Key Issues: OUTLINE



What are Managed Lanes?



Where Are Managed Lanes Nationwide



Key concerns about Managed Lanes



Benefits of Managed Lanes

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What Are Managed Lanes?



Specialized, rather than General Purpose, lanes



Variable pricing, to keep traffic flowing uncongested

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Usually limited to cars, vans, buses

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Two ways to create:

– Conversion of under-performing HOV lanes – Creation of new lanes (added capacity) 2

Managed Lanes Projects, 2011

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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, DC 4

Typical Concerns about Managed Lanes



“Lexus Lanes”



“Paying twice”

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Discouraging carpooling

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Rights of way, adequate room

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The “Lexus Lanes” Issue



Data on commuter attitudes (San Diego, Seattle)

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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)

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WSDOT Data on Managed Lanes Usage

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“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.

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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.

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Rights of Way/Room to Expand

Tampa’s elevated reversible express toll lanes—6 lanes in 6 ft

Benefits of Managed Lanes



Optimize use of all roadway capacity



Increase throughput compared with GP lanes during peak periods

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Enables Bus Rapid Transit

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More choices for travelers (“congestion insurance”)



Reduce emissions of increase travel

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Expand economic opportunity

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Generates revenue to pay at least part of costs

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Widespread public and political acceptance.

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Current long-range transportation plans don’t reduce congestion

Metro Area LRTP $ %Transit 2005-2030 Atlanta Denver 38% 27% Los Angeles 58% Miami 68% SF Bay Honolulu *2000 64% 50% Transit TTI Mode Share 2003 2030 2003 2030 6.7

5.0

8.4

6.4

4.8

7.4

4.3 5.0

6.9

7.3

5.7* 8.9

1.46

1.40

1.75

1.42

1.54

1.19

1.85

1.80

1.94

1.84

1.86

1.31

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!

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Impacts on Peak Period Speeds and Travel Times Travel Speeds (Northbound - PM Peak Period) Before Conversion After Conversion Travel Time (Northbound Peak Period) Average Peak Period Time Savings = 14 Minutes

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Synergy of Managed Lanes and Bus 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.

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I-15 Transit Station Main Lanes Managed Lanes Direct Access Road To Arterial Direct Transit Access Ramps BRT Station

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Choices Now Slow buses Congested roads Rail Transit Slow buses Congested roads Rail Transit Managed Lanes Slow buses Congested lanes Free flowing Managed Lane Bus Rapid Transit

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Emission Reductions From San Francisco Bay Area Network

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Economic Benefits of Atlanta’s ML Network (2030) Travel Time < 45 min.

45 – 90 min.

Opportunity for 196% increase in workers within 45 minutes of Downtown Employment-shed (without Managed Lanes) Employment-shed (with Managed Lanes)

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Approval of Managed Lane Program On I-15 Approve 88% Approve 66% Disapprove 11% Don’t Know 1% FasTrak Customer Disapprove 28% Other I-15 Users Don’t Know 6%

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Approval of Program by Group Age Ethnicity Income ($000’s)

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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

OVERALL SATISFACTION WITH THE 91 EXPRESS LANES

2002 Mean=5.77

2000 Mean=5.52

1999 Mean=5.55

1998 Mean=5.42

0% 20% 40% 60% Extremely satisfied Somewhat satisfied Extremely dissatisfied 80% 100% 22

“People who drive alone should be able to use the I-15 Express Lanes for a fee?”….

Agree or Disagree?

Ethnicity Income ($000’s)

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FasTrak Program Reduces Congestion On I-15 Strongly Agree 65% Strongly Disagree 5% Somewhat Disagree 5% Somewhat Agree 25% FasTrak Customer Strongly Agree 42% Don’t Know 2% Strongly Disagree 14% Somewhat Disagree 11% Other I-15 Users Somewhat Agree 31%

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Single Most Effective Way to Reduce Congestion On I-15 Extend Express Lanes 49% Don’t Know 4% Add Transit 10% Build Other Roads 13% FasTrak Customer Add Regular Lanes 24% Don’t Know 5% Add Transit 11% Extend Express Lanes 37% Build Other Roads 21% Other I-15 Users Add Regular Lanes 26%

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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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