Hugh Miller

An Introduction to Managed Lanes
Hugh W. Miller, Jr., PhD, PE
June 19, 2012

Purpose
• Managed Lanes 101
• Tolled Managed Lane Projects
–95 Express in Miami-Dade
• Conclusions
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Managed lanes are typically an “expressway
within a expressway,” with “special-purpose”
lanes separated from “general-purpose” lanes
• Operations in the special purpose lanes are
actively managed in response to changing
conditions
• Managed with a combination of tools,
including:
– Pricing,
– Vehicle eligibility, and
– Access control
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
Source:
“Managed Lanes:
A Primer,” FHWA,
US Department
of Transportation,
2005
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Pricing
– Traditional toll lanes
– Value-priced lanes (higher in peak – lower in
off-peak periods)
• Vehicle Eligibility
– Vehicle occupancy (HOV)
– Vehicle classification (trucks)
• Access Control
– Express lanes – limited entry/exit points
– Reversible lanes
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Increased complexity with more active management and
combinations of strategies
– HOT lanes
– Busways
– Exclusive truck facilities
• Active management is distinguishing feature
• Might include actions to maintain performance, such as
– Raising toll rates to maintain speed
– Raising occupancy rate to maintain operating speeds
– Closing a ramp to reduce volume in a critical segment
• Create new, viable travel options in congested corridors
• Circumstances vary – one size (solution) does not fit all
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Pricing
– Basic idea is to vary the price
• Increasing toll rates will control and limit demand
• High toll rate in peaks and low toll rates in off-peaks
• Pricing to maintain high speeds in managed lanes
• Pricing to encourage ridesharing/transit and peak
spreading
– People at all income levels use managed lanes
– Electronic toll collection is important
• Change toll in small increments over a short time
• Transponders are required on most tolled managed
lanes
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Pricing (continued)
– Different pricing policies reflect agency goals
• Traffic optimizing – highest throughput or
minimal delay in the corridor
• Revenue optimizing – most revenue for financing
purposes
– Implementation terms
• “Variable pricing” (preset schedule)
• “Dynamic pricing” (changes on the fly in
response to conditions)
– Enforcement
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
5%
15%
SOV
• Vehicle Eligibility
– Vehicle occupancy
80%
• High occupancy vehicles (HOV)
• HOV conversion to HOT lanes – SUVs “buy in”
• HOV2+ vs. HOV3+
– Vehicle classification
• Hybrid vehicles
• Trucks have significant effect on operations
• Truck restriction helps managed lane operation
and hampers general-purpose lane operations
– Enforcement
HOV 2
HOV 3+
Typical percent of vehicles
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Physical
– Commonly managed lanes are located in the
median – “expressway within an expressway”
– Number of lanes in each roadway
• Single vs. multiple managed lanes
• Don’t reduce the number of general-purpose lanes
• Reversible lanes
• Type of separation (barrier, pylons, movable
barrier or striping)
– Instrumentation and control
• Signing and driver information
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Managed Lanes
• Access Provisions
– More exit/entrance ramps more turbulent flow
– Trade-off between access and operations
– Benefits of managed lanes can be lost in the
turbulence, especially at down-stream end
– “Express lanes” have fewer exit/entrances –
serve longer distance trip lengths
– “Slip ramps” are between the managed lanes
and general-purpose lanes
– “Direct connectors” are ramps between the
managed lanes and other roadways
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Existing Tolled Managed Lanes
SR 167, Seattle, WA
•2008
I-680, Alameda, CA
•2010
I-15, Salt Lake, UT
•2006
Minneapolis, MN
•I-394 , 2005
•I-35W, 2009
SR237/I-880 Connectors,
CA
•2012
I-25, Denver, CO
•2006
I-85, Atlanta, GA
•2011
SR 91, Orange, CA
•1995
I-15, San Diego, CA
•1998
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller
Houston, TX
•US 290 QuickRide
1998
•I-10 Katy Freeway
Managed Lanes, 2009
I-95, Miami, FL
•2008

SR 91, Riverside
• Opened in 1996
• 10 miles long
• One segment
• 4 ML and 8 GPL
• HOV3+, registered hybrids
are toll free, except EB
weekday in PM peak – 50%
• Transponder only
• Toll: $1.30 min; $9.75 max
• Preset tolls vary by direction and time of day
• Goal: Provide travelers a congestion-free alternative and
maintain financial viability of the lanes
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

I-15, San Diego
• First opened in 1997
• 20 miles long
• 4 segments with
multiple access points
• 4, 2R ML and 10 GPL
• HOV2+ and registered
hybrids are toll free
• Transponder only
• Toll: $0.50 min and $8.00 max
• Dynamic pricing on per mile
basis from entry to exit by direction
• Goal: Utilize available HOV capacity
and generate revenue to fund new
transit service in the corridor
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

I-394, Minneapolis
• First opened in 2005
• 11 miles long
• 5 segments with
two-way access points
• 2, 2R ML and 8 GPL
• HOV2+ toll free
• Transponder only
• Toll: $1.00 min and $8.00 max
• Dynamic pricing per section on two sections each
direction
• Goals: Control congestion, provide a new travel
option with a source of revenue
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

SR 167, Seattle
• Opened in 2008
• 9 miles long
• 6 NB and 4 SB
segments
• 2 ML and 4 GPL
• HOV2+ toll free
• Transponder only
• Toll: $0.50 min and
$9.00 max; closed to SUV when too congested
• Dynamic pricing with maximum, single toll rate set by
direction
• Goal: Improve operational efficiency, reduce congestion
and keep people moving
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

95 Express, Miami-Dade
• First opened in 2008
• 7 miles long
• 1 segment with
several access points
• 4 ML and 8 GPL
• Registered HOV3+ and
hybrids toll free
• Transponder only
• Toll: $0.25 min and $7.00 max
• Dynamic pricing based on congestion in Express Lanes,
with single rate by direction
• Goal: Keep express lanes operating at > 45 mph,
maximizing person throughput and generating revenue
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

95 Express, Miami-Dade
• 95 Express is a multifaceted program
– Express lanes or HOT lanes
– Carpool and transit incentives
– Ramp metering
– Improved incident detection and
clearance
– Enhanced operational equipment
and strategies
• Multiple stakeholders (agencies)
• Opened in phases
– Phase 1a – 2008
– Phase 1b – 2010
– Phase 2 – 2014 (3 tolling segments)
Source: 95 Express Annual Report, FDOT, February 2012
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

95 Express, Miami-Dade
• Original configuration: 2 HOV and 8 GPL
• 95 Express configuration: 4 EL and 8 GPL
– Restriping and use of shoulders
– Pylons separate XL and GPL
Express
Lanes
Express
Lanes
Source: 95 Express Annual Report, FDOT, February 2012
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

95 Express, Miami-Dade
• Speed and volume
– Higher speeds (both
roadways)
– Reduced delay (both
roadways
– Higher traffic volumes
• Reliability (% of time
roadway operates > 45 mph)
– SB – 99.96%
– NB – 99.20%
• A new option for everyone
Volume
Speed
(vphpl)
SB NB SB NB
Before 95 Express
HOV Lanes (1 each direction) 20 mph 18 mph 1,548 1,455
General Purpose Lanes 15 mph 19 mph 1,331 1,597
95 Express
Express Lanes (2 each direction) 62 mph 56 mph 1,389 1,377
General Purpose Lanes 50 mph 41 mph 1,535 1,394
Source: 95 Express Annual Report, FDOT, February 2012
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

95 Express, Miami-Dade
• Incidents
– Facility open 94.9% of the time
– 1.3% of time closed for incidents
– Average duration of express lane
closures was 15 minutes
• Ridesharing and Transit
– Carpool, vanpool and hybrid
registration through SFCS
– Four new express bus routes on 95
Express
– 145% increase in bus ridership
• Financial
– Toll revenue $15.1M
– Operations and maintenance costs
$8.2M (not including transit)
Source: 95 Express Annual Report, FDOT, February 2012
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Conclusions
• Difficult to keep pace with growing demand
– Increased construction cost
– R/W constraints
– Environmental concerns
– Social impacts of new construction
• Funding issues make a difficult situation even
more intractable
• Transportation agencies seeking ways to better
manage existing facilities
• Managed lanes can help treated project by
project
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller

Conclusions
• Managed lanes have been used to successfully:
– Manage demand through pricing, vehicle
eligibility and access control
– Improve corridor throughput and efficiency
– Reduce corridor congestion
– Promote ridesharing and transit
– Create new travel options
– Generate revenue to cover cost of operations
and possibly a portion of the capital costs
• Tolled managed lanes can make a difference
project by project
“An Introduction to Managed Lanes” by Hugh Miller