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California’s Managed Lane Design Policy

California’s Managed Lane Design Policy. Joe Rouse California Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Operations Office of System Management Operations. Overview. Background Need and purpose for Policy Directive Lessons Learned/Special Studies/Research Findings

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California’s Managed Lane Design Policy

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  1. California’s Managed Lane Design Policy Joe Rouse California Department of Transportation Division of Traffic Operations Office of System Management Operations

  2. Overview • Background • Need and purpose for Policy Directive • Lessons Learned/Special Studies/Research Findings • Changes To Technical/Procedural Expectations and Requirements • Access type, location, spacing & design • Operational & safety analyses • Adoption of 2009 federal MUTCD • Enforcement provisions • HOV Guidelines Update

  3. Background • Need for the Policy Directive • Traffic engineering research and "lessons learned" from our southern California HOV network identified : • A need for updated Intermediate Access design • A need for more specific guidance on operational analysis • Purpose of the Policy Directive • Ensure that managed lanes will provide the performance that customers will expect: RELIABLE travel time savings • Clarify and expand the traffic operational and safety analyses that are needed for managed lane facilities • Address other issues, such as CHP policy changes and FHWA policies

  4. Technical/Procedural Changes • Intermediate Access Locations on Limited Access Managed Lanes • Three types identified • Weave Zone – Combined ingress/egress • Weave Lane – Combined ingress/egress with a weaving lane • Merge Lane – An ingress or an egress with a merging lane • New Performance Thresholds • Openings should operate at LOS “C” or “D” • Placed where recurrent congestion isn’t occurring or is expected • Stronger language than what is currently used in HOV Guidelines

  5. Technical/Procedural Changes • Intermediate Access Locations on Limited Access Managed Lanes (Cont’d) • New Lengths • 800 feet per lane change between opening and adjacent ramp (was 650 feet) • Openings should be 2000 feet (was 1300 feet) • Lighting • Required for all access points • Recommended for major weaving areas

  6. 2003 HOV Guidelines Figure 4.2

  7. Weave Zone Weave Lane Merge Lane

  8. Technical/Procedural Changes • Operational & Safety Analysis • Required for all managed lane projects • Performed during environmental phase • Objective is to ensure facility meets operational thresholds • Operational Analysis contents • Freeway mainline analysis • Merge/diverge analysis of drop ramps/direct connectors • Operational analysis of access points • Iterative process – try till you find one that works • Analytical method subject to approval of district operations

  9. Technical/Procedural Changes • Operational & Safety Analysis • Safety Analysis • Performed by Caltrans-District Traffic staff • Ensures that projects will not result in new safety “hot spots” or increase potential for severe or serious collisions • Will recommend enhancements to the managed lane facility that are simple, practical to implement, and effective • Not intended to add other improvements to the scope of work

  10. Technical/Procedural Changes • Signing – Based on 2009 MUTCD • “HOV” used instead of “CARPOOL” • Requires changes to many California signs, some new signs, some eliminated • FHWA wants signing guidelines in MUTCD • Will not be in HOV Guidelines • Striping – Based on 2009 MUTCD • FHWA has requested compliance with MUTCD • Striping changes required amendment to Vehicle Code • FHWA wants striping guidelines in MUTCD • Will not be in HOV Guidelines

  11. Limited access striping – CURRENT Limited access striping – PROPOSED One set of yellow stripes One set of white stripes

  12. Limited access striping – CURRENT Limited access striping – PROPOSED Two sets of yellow stripes Two sets of white stripes

  13. Technical/Procedural Changes • Enforcement • CHP no longer using left shoulder • Barrier separation or channelizers required for left shoulder use • Observation areas desirable • Similar in design to enforcement areas • Located downstream of toll readers • Other locations as desired by CHP

  14. HOV Guidelines Update • Changes to be made to current Guidelines • Convert to English units • Updates to intermediate access design • More cross referencing to MUTCD and HDM • Policy guidance document • Update to DD-43 by end of 2012 • More detailed policy guidance by April 2014 • Will address issues such as increasing occupancy, adding capacity, and transponder requirements

  15. Thank You Comments or Questions? Joe Rouse joe_rouse@dot.ca.gov (916) 654-6448

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