Managed Lanes Overview

1. Managed Lanes Overview February 26, 2012 Dr. Adrian Moore Vice President Reason Foundation http://reason.org

2. Key Issues: OUTLINE • What are Managed Lanes? • Where Are Managed Lanes Nationwide • Key concerns about Managed Lanes • Benefits of Managed Lanes

3. 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)

4. Managed Lanes Projects, 2011

5. 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

6. Typical Concerns about Managed Lanes • “Lexus Lanes” • “Paying twice” • Discouraging carpooling • Rights of way, adequate room

7. 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)

8. WSDOT Data on Managed Lanes Usage

9. “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.

10. 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 congestedcorridors might reduce carpools in the ML itself.

11. Rights of Way/Room to Expand Tampa’s elevated reversible express toll lanes—6 lanes in 6 ft

12. 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.

13. Current long-range transportation plans don’t reduce congestion • Metro LRTP $ Transit TTI • Area %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 • *2000

14. 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! 13

15. Impacts on Peak Period Speeds and Travel Times Travel Speeds (Northbound - PM Peak Period) Travel Time (Northbound Peak Period) After Conversion Before Conversion Average Peak Period Time Savings = 14 Minutes Speed (mph) Travel Time (8 mile trip) 14

16. 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.

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

18. Choices

19. Emission Reductions FromSan Francisco Bay Area Network

20. Economic Benefits of Atlanta’s ML Network (2030) Opportunity for 196% increase in workers within 45 minutes of Downtown Travel Time < 45 min. 45 – 90 min. Employment-shed (without Managed Lanes) Employment-shed (with Managed Lanes)

21. Approval of Managed Lane Program On I-15 Approve 88% Approve 66% Don’t Know 6% Don’t Know 1% Disapprove 28% Disapprove 11% FasTrak Customer Other I-15 Users 20

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

23. 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

24. “People who drive alone should be able to use the I-15 Express Lanes for a fee?”…. Agree or Disagree? Percent Agree Income ($000’s) Ethnicity

25. FasTrak Program Reduces Congestion On I-15 Strongly Agree 65% Strongly Agree 42% Don’t Know 2% Strongly Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 14% Somewhat Agree 31% Somewhat Disagree 5% Somewhat Disagree 11% Somewhat Agree 25% FasTrak Customer Other I-15 Users 24

26. Single Most Effective Way to Reduce Congestion On I-15 Extend Express Lanes 49% Extend Express Lanes 37% Don’t Know 5% Add Regular Lanes 26% Add Transit 11% Don’t Know 4% Add Regular Lanes 24% Add Transit 10% Build Other Roads 21% Build Other Roads 13% FasTrak Customer Other I-15 Users 25

27. Summary Managed Lanes have a track record of: • Improved Flow and reduced congestion • Improved Bus transit operations • Very popular where they are in place