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Minnesota’s Congestion Pricing Program. Road User Charging Conference January, 2009 By Bernie Arseneau Minnesota (USA) Department of Transportation. Congestion Pricing In Minnesota. Opened 11 mile High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane on I-394 in 2005
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Minnesota’s Congestion Pricing Program Road User Charging Conference January, 2009 By Bernie Arseneau Minnesota (USA) Department of Transportation
Congestion Pricing In Minnesota • Opened 11 mile High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane on I-394 in 2005 • Opening new 16 mile HOT lane in two phases on I-35W in 2009 and 2010 on • Congestion pricing brand name: MnPASS
Our First HOT lane on I-394 • 11 mile corridor • 3 mile barrier separated reversible section • 8 mile diamond lane section • 5 EB and 6 WB access points in diamond lane section • Access in diamond lane controlled through signing and striping • Carpools, transit and motorcycles free • No transponders for Carpools • Fully electronic & dynamically priced
Long Path Toward a HOT Lane • Old Highway 12 Converted to Interstate • Rancorous debate on conversion to I-394 • Construction started in 1982…,Opened in 1992 • Peak period HOV (diamond lane) • Dedicated 3 mile HOV reversible section • Suffered from “Empty Lane Syndrome” • 2002 HOV lane study • Should it HOV lane become General Purpose Lane? • 2003 HOV to HOT conversion legislation • 2003 Awarded design/build/operate contract • 2005 MnPASS HOT Lane successfully opens
I-394 MnPASS Project Goals • Improve I-394 efficiency • Maintain free flow speeds for transit and carpoolers • Use excess revenues to improve highway and transit in corridor • Employ new technologies for pricing and enforcement
MnPASS Innovations • First Toll Road in Minnesota • Public-Private Partnership for HOT lanes • Minnesota’s first self funded transportation project • Tolling on lanes directly adjacent to non-barrier separated lanes with multiple access points • Full dynamic pricing on multiple consecutive roadway segments • Technology applications assist in enforcement, read/write transponders and enforcement readers
Public Involvement was Key • Community Task Force • Advise Commissioner of Transportation on: • Hours of Operation • Transponder • Safety and Enforcement • Toll Rates • Dynamic Message Signs • Public Outreach • Expected Revenues • Project Evaluation • Type of Vehicles Allowed • Access Points/Traffic Operations • Outreach and education
Concept Adoption(transponder leases) 9,441 Opening Day Today: 11,912 Active Transponders
MnPASS Users Satisfied • 95% satisfaction with all electronic tolling • 85% satisfaction with traffic speed in lane • 76% satisfaction with dynamic pricing • 66% satisfaction with safety of merging
Establishing the Toll Price • Min: $0.25 Max $8,00 • Price based on HOT lane traffic conditions only • Data from sensors in lane every ½ mi • Price updated every 3 minutes • Price is set off customizable rate tables • Existing Price, Level of Service, and Rate of Change determine New Price • Price based on worst traffic density point downstream of entrance • Pricing during set hours only (i.e. not 24x7)
Safety Improves Before Opening After Opening
Corridor Conditions Improve • I-394 MnPASS lanes peak hour volumes increased 9 to 33% • Total I-394 peak hour roadway volumes increased by up to 5% • 98% of time speeds above 50 mph • Travel speeds in the general purpose lanes increased by 2 to 15 percent • Transit ridership and carpools levels increase
MnPASS Enforcement Strategy Goal: Violation rate <10% • Convert violators to paying customers • Measure compliance, target problems • Be present • Provide technology to enforce Results: Violation rates are <10%
I-394 Conclusions • Important to get the project right • HOV/HOT options offer CHOICE • Public acceptance is high • Makes better use of HOV lanes • GP lanes also work better • Benefits Transit and Carpools • Success helped create the next opportunity
I-35W MnPASS Express Lane Funded by US DOT’s UPA Initiative, includes: • Conversion of existing HOV to HOT (10 mi) • Construction of new HOT lane (4 miles) • Conversion of shoulder todynamic PDSL lane (2 miles) • Extension of HOT lane (2 miles)
What’s Next for MN Congestion Pricing? • By 2010 all existing HOV lanes converted to HOT • Seeking MnPASS expansion opportunities under several design concepts: • 2 mile extension of I-35W HOT lane in 2011 • Studying managed/priced shoulder lanes on I-94 for 2010+ deployment • Development of MnPASS lane using movable barrier • Concept developed, in modeling study now • More dynamic shoulders under study
Questions and More Information Visit www.mnpass.org Or www.dot.state.mn.us/upa or Contact: nick.thompson@dot.state.mn.us