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Houston’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Houston’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes. Program Update HGAC Transportation Policy Council January 2007. METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY. Current HOV Operations. 2+ Occupancy Corridors: I-45 North Freeway US 59 Eastex Freeway I-45 Gulf Freeway US 59 Southwest Freeway.

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Houston’s High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

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  1. Houston’s High OccupancyVehicle Lanes Program Update HGAC Transportation Policy Council January 2007 METROPOLITAN TRANSIT AUTHORITY

  2. Current HOV Operations • 2+ Occupancy Corridors: • I-45 North Freeway • US 59 Eastex Freeway • I-45 Gulf Freeway • US 59 Southwest Freeway

  3. Current HOV Operationscontinued… • Variable Occupancy Corridors • I-10 Katy Freeway • AM & PM Peak Hours: 3+ • QuickRide Toll: 2+ ($2.00) • All Other Times: 2+ • US 290 Northwest Freeway • AM Peak Hours: 3+ • QuickRide Toll: 2+ ($2.00) • All other times: 2+

  4. Current HOV Operationscontinued… • Variable Occupancy Corridors continued… • 135,700 passengers per day • 64% carpools • 32% bus 75% increase in volume • 3% vans 1998-2006 • 1% motorcycles • 45,000 Vehicles per day • 94% carpools • 2% bus 70% increase in volume • 2% vans 1998-2006 • 2% motorcycles

  5. Current HOV Operationscontinued… • Vehicle Utilization: • AM Peak Period (6:30-9:00 AM) Demand Vs Capacity

  6. Current HOV Operationscontinued… • Vehicle Utilization: • PM Peak Period (3:30-7:00 PM) Demand Vs Capacity

  7. Current HOV Operationscontinued… • QuickRide Experience • Began in 1998 on I-10 Katy as a demonstration • 2100 Authorized Customers (customer accounts) • Averages about 150 trips per day • Lane management based on number of QuickRide accounts, not demand for travel • Masks effect of 3+ occupancy requirement on lane capacity & its management • Capacity goes unused;

  8. HOT LANES Project Objectives • Increase use of available HOV Lane capacity • Provide a standard of service for all users: free flowing roadway: guaranteed travel-time. • Employ a value-price choice to encourage additional lane use • Employ variable pricing to manage demand in Lanes • Offset existing and incremental costs if any with user fees • Meet or exceed environmental requirements of Regional Air Quality Plan • Fund from METRO’s FTA Fixed Guideway Modernization Grants

  9. HOT LANE Benefits • Better Lane utilization: bus, vanpools, and autos. • Increase hours of operation • Improve overall mobility in corridors • Provide additional travel choices • Reduce operating costs through automation

  10. HOT LANE Project Elements • Seek best practice and expertise from around the country • Install automatic tolling system of gantries, readers, transponders, computer equipment and software. • Provide automated “open & close” process • Provide for enforcement, both occupancy and valid accounts • Provide for customer services, back-office, accounting, and marketing • Integration with regional traffic management at TranStar

  11. Planning / Environmental StatusHOV – to – HOT • Will utilize FTA fixed guideway modernization formula funds for HOT lane conversion • FTA grant in place • FTA categorical exclusion in place • Fixed guideway grant funds included in current TIP and current long-range plan • Clean air impacts can be demonstrated to be negligible due to the relatively small proportion of vehicles diverted from the main lanes in peak hour

  12. HOV Lanes 55.0 MPH GP Lanes 17.9 MPH Direction of Speed Changes for HOT Lanes Modification Vehicle Speed versus Emission Rates US-290 AM Peak Period Speeds (September 2006) Sam Houston Tollway to Fairbanks N. Houston

  13. Schedule Overview • Procurement process now beginning • Equipment Provider Award decision needed May/June 2007 • Initial corridor operational in Winter 2007 • Additional corridor every three months • 5 corridors complete in winter 2008

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