Urban Road Pricing: US DOT Congestion Initiative and Urban Partnerships

1. Urban Road Pricing:US DOT Congestion Initiative and Urban Partnerships 14th World Congress on ITS IBEC Special Session October 10, 2007 Beijing Exhibition Centre Beijing, CHINA Jeffrey F. PaniatiAssociate Administrator, Office of OperationsFederal Highway Administration

2. Congestion Pricing – The Options HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges Strategy to Reduce Congestion

3. Congestion Pricing - Today HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges San Diego SR91 Minneapolis (California) Denver Strategy to Reduce Congestion

4. Congestion Pricing of Excess HOV Facility Capacity (HOT Lanes) Fees for SOV use vary based on traffic levels: I-394 MnPass Express Lanes in Minneapolis (dynamic pricing, real-time). I-15FasTrak Lanes In San Diego (quasi-dynamic, every 6 minutes). I-25 Express Lanes In Denver (variable pricing) all using electronic transponders. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

5. Congestion Pricing of New Lanes SR 91, Orange County, CA • Four new lanes in median, 10 miles • Tolls vary according to a fixed schedule -- $1.25 to $10.00 Strategy to Reduce Congestion

6. USDOT’s Congestion Initiative: A Six-Point Plan • Relieve urban congestion. • Unleash private sector investment resources. • Promote operational and technological improvements. • Establish a “Corridors of the Future” competition. • Target major freight bottlenecks and expand freight policy outreach. • Accelerate major aviation capacity projects and provide a future funding framework. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

7. Urban Partnership Agreements – Congestion Pricing • Congestion Pricing is a key component of the USDOT Congestion Initiative (Relieve Urban Congestion element) - Urban Partnerships • Integrated “4T” Strategy • TOLLING (pricing) – Key Element • Direct user charge based on use of facility; varies based on level of congestion • Toll collection via electronic means (no booths) • Transit • Telecommuting/Travel Demand Management • Technology • About $850 million in USDOT Discretionary Funds Strategy to Reduce Congestion

8. Urban Partners Seattle Minneapolis -St. Paul New York City SanFrancisco Miami Strategy to Reduce Congestion

9. Congestion Pricing – Urban Partners HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges Minneapolis – St. Paul Miami Strategy to Reduce Congestion

10. Minneapolis-St. Paul Urban Partner • I-35W between downtown Minneapolis and the southern suburbs. • Existing HOV lanes converted to dynamically-priced HOT lanes (similar to existing MnPASS operation). • Existing HOT lanes extended. • Shoulder lanes dynamically priced. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

11. Miami Urban Partner • 21 miles of HOT lanes on I-95 from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami. • Raise HOV limit from HOV2 to HOV3+. • Expand 10-lane highway to 12 lanes (by reducing the width of the existing lanes from 12 to 11 feet and using a portion of the shoulder). Strategy to Reduce Congestion

12. Congestion Pricing – Urban Partners HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges Minneapolis – St. Paul Seattle Miami San Francisco Strategy to Reduce Congestion

13. Seattle Urban Partner • Variable pricing on the State Route 520 floating bridge. • King County crossing that currently carries about 160,000 people per day between Seattle and its Eastside suburbs. • Tolls on the existing bridge are intended to help pay for the new bridge. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

14. San Francisco Urban Partner • Variable pricing on Doyle Drive, the 1.5 mile elevated roadway leading to the Golden Gate Bridge. • Will charge an extra 1-way-fee above the $5 toll on the Golden Gate Bridge. • Revenues will help pay to reconstruct the 70-year old Doyle Drive. • Creation of Integrated Mobility Accounts. • Variable pricing of on/off-street parking and city-owned garage spaces in downtown San Francisco. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

15. Congestion Pricing – Urban Partners HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges Minneapolis – St. Paul Seattle Miami San Francisco New York City Strategy to Reduce Congestion

16. New York City Urban Partner • Will charge drivers $8 and trucks $21 a day to enter or leave Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays during the workday. • Those who drive only within the congestion zone would pay $4 a day for cars, $5.50 for trucks. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

17. Congestion Pricing - The Future HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) Cordon or Area Pricing Region - Wide Charges Minneapolis – St. Paul Seattle Miami San Francisco New York City Strategy to Reduce Congestion

18. Congestion Pricing – Region Wide Charges • Current Examples • Studies in Oregon and Seattle have tested mileage-based fees and peak-period driving charges. • Six State pilot with approximately 2500 participants to start in early 2008. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

19. USDOT/FHWA Next Steps • Promote HOV to HOT Conversions through Tailored Technical Assistance. • Urban Partners. • Provide Direct Support to the Urban Partners. • Harness and Share Experiences. • Provide General Resource Material - Tailored Workshops and Seminars; Reference Material. • Value Pricing Pilot Program Lessons Learned. • Model Pricing Legislation. • “Making the Case” Outreach and Technical Support. Strategy to Reduce Congestion

20. For More Information • Visit • www.fightgridlocknow.gov • www.fhwa.dot.gov/congestion/index.htm Strategy to Reduce Congestion