High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) LanesRecent Developments

High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) LanesRecent Developments

Planning and Operations Committee

September 9, 2005

Transportation 2030 proposal

Convert HOV lanes to HOT lanes

Carpools, buses still travel free of charge

SOVs can choose to use HOT lanes for a toll

FasTrakTM electronic toll collection

Maintain HOV/HOT lane performance

Regional HOT NetworkRegional HOT Network

Transportation 2030

More efficient use of freeway capacity

Help fund expansion of HOV network and express bus service

Offers travelers another choice – “congestion insurance”

Local efforts underway; need regional coordination

Why a Regional HOT Network?Why a Regional HOT Network?

Transportation 2030

Transportation 2030

Conceptual Conceptual Regional HOT Regional HOT NetworkNetwork

Conceptual Conceptual Regional HOT Regional HOT NetworkNetwork

HOT Lanes in Operation Orange County (SR 91)

San Diego (I-15)

Houston, Texas (I-10 Katy Freeway and US 290)

Minneapolis (I-394) opened May 16, 2005

Coming Soon Denver (I-25) to open December, 2005

Seattle (State Route 167) in 2007

Houston (I-10 extension) in 2009

San Diego (I-15 extension ) in 2010

National ProjectsNational Projects

Recent Developments

Existing HOT Lanes

Orange County SR 91 Express LanesOrange County SR 91 Express Lanes

Existing HOT Lanes

San Diego I-15 Express LanesSan Diego I-15 Express Lanes

Existing HOT Lanes

Houston Houston I-10 I-10 Katy FreewayKaty Freeway

Houston Houston I-10 I-10 Katy FreewayKaty Freeway

New HOT Lanes

Minneapolis I-394 MnPASS (Opened May 16)Minneapolis I-394 MnPASS (Opened May 16)

Value Pricing Pilot Program

15 demonstration projects

$11 to $12 million/year

Broad permission to convert HOV to HOT

Must maintain service levels (45 mph minimum)

Encourages directing excess revenue to ridesharing and highway safety programs

Federal Legislation - SAFETEAFederal Legislation - SAFETEA

Developments

Existing law modified by AB 2032 (Dutra) provides specific authority for pilot projects

Alameda County – 2 projects (including I-680)

Santa Clara County – 2 projects

San Diego County – 2 projects

GoCalifornia bills expand authority for Caltrans and regional agencies – difficult path in legislature

AB 850 (Canciamilla) – Caltrans

AB 561 (Runner) – Caltrans

AB 509 (Richman) – Regional transportation agencies

AB 1699 (Frommer) – Regional transportation agencies/ sales tax authorities (Design build and HOT lanes elements)

State LegislationState Legislation

Developments

I-680 Sunol Grade Smart Carpool Lane Pilot Project (ACCMA & VTA)

Convert southbound I-680 HOV lane to HOT lane

Projected opening 2009

I-580/I-680 HOT/Credit Lanes Feasibility Study (ACCMA)

Low-income drivers credits toward free HOT lane use

Study recommendations Fall 2005

Santa Clara County HOT Lane Feasibility Study (VTA)

Identify corridors for pilot projects

Study recommendations September 2005

Regional ProjectsRegional Projects

Recent Developments

Limited access

Double-yellow stripe separation with intermediate access (access design under study)

Toll varies by time of day, day of week

Early polling: 60% to 70% support (project area)

Proposed I-680 ConceptProposed I-680 Concept

Recent Developments

How Do We Get to a Regional Network?How Do We Get to a Regional Network?

Next Steps

pilot projects(I-680, ACCMA &

VTA corridors)

convert low-volume HOV lanes

convert HOV lanes when they reach capacity (increase HOV occupancy)

construct new lanes to close gaps

Define a series of phases, for example

Build on work in Alameda and Santa Clara counties

Identify corridors “next in line”

Regional network must be coordinated; considerations include

Carpool lane integrity

Need capacity to sell

Distribution of benefits

Governance

Technology

Regional HOT Network Feasibility StudyRegional HOT Network Feasibility Study

Next Steps

In Closing

EXPRESS LANESHOV 2+ FREE

FasTrak Tag Only - No Cash

$1.00

TOLL

$2.50To

MINNESOTA262 To

MINNESOTA237