Communications Update the Minnesota Department of Transportation

Using Innovation to Manage TransportationPat Bursaw, Minnesota DOTInternational Partnership MeetingWashington D.C. January 26, 20121OverviewMinnesota / Twin Cities Metro AreaInnovations in PlanningInnovations in Traffic Management and SafetyMnPASSActive Traffic ManagementLower cost solutionsToward Zero DeathsSummary

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Twin Cities2/7/2012HOT Lanes Peer Exchange, Minneapolis, MN33Minnesota population 5.3 millionTwin Cities 2.8 million population- 55% of state1.5 million jobs- 60% of stateAbout 10% of state highway system, 50% of VMT

Last few years little/no growth due to economy, but continue to expect growth over next 20 years

BackgroundAs the region grows, increased travel demand on our aging infrastructure will continue to create additional transportation challengesPreservation- pavement and bridgesSafetyCongestion42000 2030Pop. Growth = 966,000 Jobs growth = 520,000Growth in daily VMT = 26,200,000Growth in daily vehicle trips = 3,100,000

Absolute Incremental Change Percent ChangePopulation 966,00037%HH 471,000 46%Employment 520,000 32%VMT 26,200,000 40%Daily Vehicle Trips 3,100,000 40%

Funding constraintsIncreased need for pavement and bridge fundingAdding capacity to fully eliminate congestion would cost more than $40 billion over next 20 yearsIf used alone, state gas tax would need more than $2 per gallon increase for mobility5$40 billion as estimated in the Principal Arterial Study

Mn/DOT Metro District Total Revenues over next 20 years = $6 billion (for preservation, safety, & congestion mitigation)

State Gas Tax Info:

Pre-2008 legislature: 20 cents per gallon

By 2013 (with Chapter 152): 28.5 cents per gallon

8.5 cents increase = $900 million annually

First gas tax increase since 1988

Sunsets in 2018. State Road Construction Program

6Over 70% of Mn/DOT Metro road construction program required for preserving aging bridges and highways and basic safety projectsOnly about 24% of Metro program, or $900 million, left for capacity and major safety investmentsThis is optimistic for mobility funding available.

Bridge needs met; pavement minimally met. Increasing other infrastructure needs (storm tunnels, lighting, guardrails, noisewalls, etc.)

How can we best meet mobility needs while balancing other infrastructure needs?Innovations in PlanningInvestment Strategies for MobilityManaged Lanes (MnPASS)Active Management (ATM) System-wideLower Cost/High-Benefit ImprovementsStrategic Capacity ExpansionApproach to address mobility needs throughout region- what we can do now, not waiting for huge new funding sources to complete major expansion projects. MnPASS- system of priced managed lanes using ATM. Transit and carpoolers use for free; also solo drivers who choose to pay.

ATM- Technology used to constantly adapt to changing highway conditions. Includes cameras, loop detectors, ramp meters, overhead gantries, variable speed controls, variable message signs. Provides real time information.

Lower-cost/high-benefit improvements- focuses on the critical problem and how to solve. Allows for smaller but effective improvements spread across the region rather than one or two mega projects. Examples include adding additional lane for short segment to ease merging and exiting freeway traffic.Strategic capacity expansion- In some cases may still need additional general purpose lanes to provide continuity or complete an unfinished segment.7Regional Transportation Management CenterBackbone for Managed Lanes system and ATM

Shared Operations CenterMn/DOT Traffic OperationsMn/DOT Maintenance DispatchState Patrol Dispatch

400 miles of freeway management system

The RTMC is Minnesotas second generation center. It opened in June 2003.

Shared operations has allowed for better communications and coordination between agencies.

Freeway management system covers 100% of metro area freeways. Extensive ITS infrastructure including cameras, DMS, and ramp meters help manage traffic incidents and reduce congestion on Twin Cities Metro Freeways.

Mn/DOT has been a leader in ITS deployment and continues to move forward with new advances in congestion pricing and advanced traffic management systems to help manage congestion and incidents.

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MnPASS System

-Note title Future Managed Lane System MnPASS lanes are priced managed lanes and virtually all of the yellow segments on this map are envisioned as future MnPASS facilities. MnPASS lanes, where technically and financially feasible, will generally provide the maximum level of hwy. performance.

-Note green segments - The first MnPASS Express Lanes opened on I-394 in 2005 (11 miles 8 miles open, 3 miles barrier separated) and expanded to I-35W in 2009/10 (16 miles 14 miles open, 2 miles Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane).

- Note red segment The next MnPASS facility is proposed on I-35E

9Congestion Pricing in MinnesotaCongestion pricing brand name

Opened 11 mile High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane on I-394 in 2005

Opened 16 mile HOT lane in two phases in 2009-10 on I-35W as part of the Minnesota UPA projectFuture I35E segment planned 2016

Why is MnPASS a key strategy for regions future?

Peak period hwy. costs are our highest cost infrastructure investments

Sustainability - Last mobility investment chance for many corridorsInvestment benefits must be sustained

MnPASS is the most efficient and cost-effective multimodal way to sustain benefitsReliability Travel time reliability is critical to the regions economy, transit system and quality of life

MnPASS is the most efficient and cost-effective way to ensure such reliability

Traditional general purpose lanes cannot provide the level of sustainability and reliability that MnPASS can

10MnPASS operates only during peak rush hours Peaks are defined as 6 to 10 AM and 2 to 7 PM M-FOff peak and weekend lanes are free and open to all

Buses, carpools(2+) and motorcycles use for free during peak rush hours

How does MnPASS work?11Solo drivers can choose to use for a fee

Fees range from .25 to $8.00Fees average between $1.25 and $1.50

Lane use is enforced by State Patrol

Free flow speeds (50-55mph) are maintained through dynamic pricingHow does MnPASS work? cont.12MnPASS Dynamic Pricing Price based on congestion in MnPASS lane- real time data from pavement loop detectorsNumber of vehicles in laneSpeed of the vehiclesRate of change of traffic conditions

Dynamic pricing provides reliability

Pricing is set to produce reliability, not to maximize revenue

2/7/2012Background13The prices changes about every 3 or 6 minutes during the peak period. The price typically changes in increments of 25 to 50 cents, but this is dependent on the change in congestion in the MnPASS Lane downstream. MnPASS I-394 Lane Design

Typical signing and striping for the I-394 MnPASS lanes.

First system to use signing and striping with pricing to manage access and congestion in lane

I 35W- Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane (PDSL): Segment 3: 3 milesPriced Dynamic Shoulder Lane North of 42nd St on NB 35W

Maintains existing 4 lanes with an added PDSL Lane

Effectively extends the MnPASS lane to downtown Minneapolis using existing road spaceAnother innovative feature of the I35W MnPASS is the Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane on one segment. 15Innovative Use of Technology and Infrastructure

Managed LanesAnd Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane (PDSL)2/7/2012HOT Lanes Peer Exchange, Minneapolis, MN16Utilize the same space of 4 lanes and two shoulders to get a fifth lane when needed or a shoulder when needed. This resulted in very low cost multi-modal expansion in a highly urbanized environment

I-35W MnPASS: Active Traffic Management With ATMS, motorists along the corridor can be informed of what is occurring ahead helping drivers travel safer and smarter.

17I-35W: The 21ST Century HighwayIntegrated & InnovativeI-35W MnPASS SystemPriced Dynamic Shoulder LaneSmart LanesBus Rapid Transit and StationsIntegrated Park and RidesLow cost/high benefit capacity Results in Sustainable Congestion-Free Choices for Travelers

18Low Cost/High Benefit ExampleI-94 at McKnight RoadCongestion and crash problems in 4-lane segment between two 6-lane segmentsConverted to 6-lane freeway section within existing R/W for under $10M4/1 Benefit/cost based on congestion savings alone

System of low-cost/high-benefit under development through Congestion Management Safety Plan (CMSP). Approximately 80 locations have been identified working with local partners. Now refining to smaller set of potential projects.19Toward Zero DeathsMinnesotas primary traffic safety initiativePartnership between the Departments of Transportation, Public Safety and Health; local traffic safety partners; and the University of Minnesota, led by the Universitys Center for Transportation StudiesMinnesota Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) is the state's primary trafficsafety initiative. It is a partnership between the Departments ofTransportation, Public Safety, and Health; the University ofMinnesota, led by the Center for Transportation Studies (CTS); andlocal traffic safety partners. TZDs mission is to create a culturefor which traffic fatalities and serious injuries are no longeracceptable through the integrated application of education,engineering, enforcement, and emergency medical and trauma services.These efforts are driven by data, best practices, and research.20Toward Zero Deaths

21The TZD program has successfully implemented several strategies that have worked to reduce fatalities.

TZD had a goal of fewer than 400 fatalities on Minnesota roads in 2010.

Although we did not hit that target (estimated 415 for 2010), we were close, and we have continued a trend of a declining number of fatalities.

Set a new goal of 2014 of fewer than 350.SummaryInnovation in planning, management of transportation through MnPASS, active traffic managementChallenges- changes in attitudeHow can we learn from others experience?22

Questions?

Pat Bursaw, Minnesota DOTPat.bursaw@state.mn.us23