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AGENDA ITEM #7 POLICY ON HOV PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND HOV EXEMPTIONS FOR HYBRID VEHICLES

AGENDA ITEM #7 POLICY ON HOV PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND HOV EXEMPTIONS FOR HYBRID VEHICLES. - MARCH 3, 2005-. RECOMMENDED ACTION:.

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AGENDA ITEM #7 POLICY ON HOV PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND HOV EXEMPTIONS FOR HYBRID VEHICLES

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  1. AGENDA ITEM #7POLICY ON HOV PERFORMANCE MONITORING AND HOV EXEMPTIONS FOR HYBRID VEHICLES -MARCH 3, 2005-

  2. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Support PRTC’s position in a letter to Secretary Clement and Secretary Marshall endorsing the recommendations of a HOV Task Force. Recognizing that the HOV lanes are at or near capacity, ask for prompt action on a performance monitoring system and remedial plan as well as on the use of those lanes by hybrid vehicles. 2

  3. BACKGROUND: • A HOV Task Force reported on the results of improved enforcement to decrease repeat offenders, but warned of a “dramatic increase in the number of low occupancy vehicles and hybrids.” The lanes are being clogged. 3

  4. Vehicles with clean fuel plates on the HOV lanes tripled on I-95 in about six months during mid-2004 to 1,700, accounting for 18 percent of HOV traffic. • The I-95 HOV lanes are now beyond recommended capacity (1,500-1,800 vehicles per lane per hour). • FHWA requires a detailed report from VDOT by February 28, 2005 about this alarming trend. 4

  5. The Task Force Recommends: • Continuing strict enforcement creating safe enforcement zones and providing more funding. • An action plan in the event HOV lanes reach capacity. • Limit clean fuel exemptions and end the exemption altogether on July 1, 2006. • Involve NVTC in examining expanded HOV hours. • Develop long term strategies. 5

  6. Data in the report show monthly HOV violation conviction rates and traffic counts with violation rates for 2002, 2003 and 2004. In some sections the violation rates are enormous (95% on I-66 outside the Beltway at 5:30- 6:00a.m.). In others no improvement in violation rates is shown over time e.g. I-395 at Glebe Road: --38% violations in Fall, 2002 --59% in Fall, 2003 --57% in Fall, 2004 at 6:00 to 6:30a.m. 6

  7. Other data show the great majority of clean fuel plates issued statewide are in Northern Virginia (about 90 percent) of 5,843 total as of October, 2004. 7

  8. VDOT Commissioner Phil Shucet wrote to FHWA on February 25th outlining elements of a monitoring system and remedial plan. • He included some policy options for hybrid vehicles, including: • Lifting the exemption altogether • Requiring HOV 2+ • Restricting times (e.g. after 7:30am) • Restricting locations (e.g. inside Beltway) • Capping at current levels The following slides were provided: 8

  9. Figure 1. Traffic Volume Growth on I-95 HOV Lanes at Occoquan River

  10. Figure 2. Traffic Volume Distribution on I-95 HOV Lanes At Occoquan River

  11. Figure 3. Traffic Volume Distribution on I-95 HOV Lanes At Newington

  12. Figure 4. Traffic Volume Distribution on I-395 HOV Lanes At Glebe Road

  13. Action Eliminate HOV3+ Exemption for Hybrid Vehicles Impacts on HOV Lanes ·    Outside Beltway volumes reduced by 14% to 20%; Will improve traffic flow during peak (6:30-7:30); LOS improve to “C”/“D” ·    Inside Beltway volumes reduced by about 6%; Will improve traffic flow during peak (7:30–8:30); LOS “D” conditions continue Impacts on General Purpose Lanes ·  Outside Beltway volumes increase by 5% to 10%; Congestion level degrades ·  Inside Beltway volumes increase by about 3%; LOS “F” conditions continue Hybrid Vehicles Subject to HOV2+ ·    Outside Beltway volumes reduced by 12% to 15%; Will improve traffic flow during peak (6:30-7:30); LOS improve to “C”/“D” ·    Inside Beltway volumes reduced by about 5%; Will improve traffic flow during peak (7:30–8:30); LOS “D” conditions continue ·    Inside Beltway volumes increase by about 2%; LOS “F” conditions continue ·    Outside Beltway volumes increase by 5% to 6%; LOS will continue at current levels

  14. Action Allow Hybrid Vehicle Exemption Between 7:30 to 9:00 AM Only For Entire Corridor Impacts on HOV Lanes ·    Outside Beltway volumes reduced by about 18% during peak (6:30-7:30) with LOS improving to “C”/”D”; Volumes increase between 7:30 to 8:00 with LOS deteriorating to “D” for brief period ·    Inside Beltway volumes reduced by about 8% during 6:30-7:30 with LOS improved to “C”; Volumes increase during peak (7:30-8:30) with LOS deteriorating to “E” ·    Excess capacity outside beltway is better utilized outside beltway after 7:30 AM ·    May need to consider extending PM HOV restricted period to 6:30 or 7:00 to allow for return commute on HOV lanes Impacts on General Purpose Lanes ·    No significant changes likely to existing volumes and LOS assuming Hybrid vehicles will continue to utilize HOV exemption at different time of day

  15. Action Allow Hybrid Vehicle Exemption Only Outside Beltway Between 7:30 to 9:00 AM Impacts on HOV Lanes ·    Outside Beltway volumes reduced by about 18% during peak (6:30-7:30) with LOS improving to “C”/”D”; Volumes increase between 7:30 to 8:00 ·    Inside Beltway volumes reduced during peak (7:30–8:30) hence improved flow ·    About 50% of Hybrid users exiting at Beltway will continue to get same benefits Impacts on General Purpose Lanes ·    Inside Beltway volumes will increase after 7:30 AM; Congestion likely to not deteriorate significantly Cap HOV Exemption to Current Hybrid Vehicle users ·    Some segments of HOV facility will continue to operate at current levels ·    In combination with other measures, may work for some more time ·    Not likely to have impact to traffic operations on general use lane

  16. Action Starting HOV Restricted Period to 5:30 AM for NB Commute Impacts on HOV Lanes ·    Outside Beltway volumes reduced by 12% to 16%; LOS improved to “C” or “D” ·    Inside Beltway volumes reduced by 16% to 19% between 6:30 and 7:30 AM; LOS improved to “C” ·    Will likely improve operations before 6:30 AM by limiting impact of early violators ·    Strategy may spread the spikes in peak demand volume Impacts on General Purpose Lanes ·    Volumes will remain at existing levels between 6:30 and 7:30 AM but will increase by approximately 500 vehicles between 5:30 and 6:30 AM ·    Early breakdowns on general purpose lanes may be significant ·    Extent of mode shift due to increased congestion will need further evaluation Extending HOV Restricted Period to 6:30 to 7:00 PM for SB Commute ·    Provides HOV commuters to opportunities to start late in the morning to return late on HOV lanes ·    In conjunction with additional parking, may help spread AM and PM spikes in peak demand volumes ·    Will create compatibility in HOV restricted periods between AM and PM—currently 3 hours (6:00-9:00) in AM and 2 ½ hours (3:30-6:00) in the PM ·    Need for further evaluation on general purpose lanes ·    Most likely, no significant impact since traffic into HOV lanes in metered from DC and Potomac River bridge capacities

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