How can we relieve congestion in the I-95 corridor? I-95 Congestion Relief Study

CT Congestion Relief Study DOT conducting studies of CT’s 2 most congested corridors: I-95 corridor from NY to New Haven I-84 in Hartford Metropolitan Area Both studies: Funded with special federal grants –Value Pricing Pilot Program Will explore a variety of travel options to help provide congestion relief Will evaluate electronic tolling & pricing –As ‘one’ component of a broader strategy to reduce congestion 2

CT Congestion Relief Forums Purpose: to learn what congestion relief & congestion pricing methods have worked in other states Invited out-of-state panelists have experience with successful practices in other areas Opportunity: learn from others Hear about methods used & lessons learned Ask: what might work in Connecticut? 3

Three-hour forums tailored to each study area I-95 forum (NY- New Haven corridor) I-84 forum (Hartford area) Agenda Overview: problem & study Panel 1: out-of-state professionals & community leaders Panel 2: local panelists o bring local perspectives to the discussion Open session: questions from the audience CT Congestion Relief Forums: Format 4

Overview of I-95 Congestion Relief Study 5

New Jersey New York Connecticut Long Island Sound New Haven Bridgeport Stamford Danbury Waterbury Hudson River I-95 Merritt Pkwy. Metro North I Meriden 7 15 I-95 Corridor: New York/New Haven New Canaan also monitor impacts on Route 1 & I-84

I-95 is CT’s most congested corridor – 20-mile traffic jams common occurrence – 3-4 hours in duration Problem continues to get worse – increased by 19% between 2001 & Costly for residents & businesses – 41 million hours: total time of all people delayed in traffic in 2011 – $860 million: cost to residents & businesses Annual Urban Mobility Report, Texas Transportation Institute, 2011 data Congestion is a Serious Problem in Our Most Important Economic Corridor 7

8 Southbound A.M. Bridgeport – Stamford Area 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 GreenwichStamford New HavenOrangeWest HavenMilfordStratfordBridgeportFairfieldWestportNorwalkDarien starts at 6:30 in Bridgeport expands towards Stamford 20 miles long at peak Travel speed data illustrates extent & duration of the problem Morning congestion is severe & focused in Bridgeport – Stamford section

9 6:00 7:00 8:00 9:00 10:00 11:00 Greenwich Stamford New HavenOrangeWest HavenMilfordStratfordBridgeportFairfieldWestportNorwalkDarien Duration = 4+ hours 6:30 – 10:30 am Southbound A.M. Bridgeport – Stamford area Morning congestion can last over 4 hours Travel speed data illustrates extent & duration of the problem

3:00 4:00 5:00 6:00 7:00 8:00 GreenwichStamford New HavenOrangeWest HavenMilfordStratfordBridgeportFairfieldWestportNorwalkDarien 20+ miles long at peak Northbound P.M. period Bridgeport – Stamford area 10 Duration = 4+ hours 3:00 – 7:00 pm Travel speed data illustrates extent & duration of the problem Afternoon congestion is just as severe

electronic tolling & congestion pricing transportation improvements o highway improvements o rail & bus improvements expectation: need combination o No single method is sufficient o Combination of methods will be required to achieve congestion relief Will explore a variety of Congestion Relief Methods 11

What this is not: It is not a change in DOT’s commitment to transit o Transit is central to DOT’s strategy for corridor o Transit is essential for economic growth o Transit options & impacts will be part of study o DOT’s investments reflect its commitment $3.2 Billion in last decade $1 Billion in next 5 years 12

13 I-95 Value Pricing Study Overview Public involvement & information (special importance) – Engage residents, businesses, local officials, legislators in study – Meetings, focus groups, forums, surveys, website Collect data – Traffic counts, travel time data, travel patterns, – Surveys: including stated preference survey Develop special technical analysis tools – Travel demand models, traffic simulation models, transit model Identify alternatives – Toll/pricing options, highway improvements, transit improvements Test & evaluate alternatives – Level of congestion relief – Shifts to transit (& what is needed to accommodate new riders) – Diversions alternate routes – Cost to build, maintain, operate – Revenue potential

What is Electronic Tolling? vastly different from the old manned toll booths used in the past Tolling in CT circa 1980 Toll booths created traffic problems Congestion Accidents Air quality problems 14

New Electronic Methods do not create traffic problems no booths no stopping no need to slow down −no traffic delays −no safety problems Electronic sensors mounted overhead on special gantries – EZ Pass readers – Cameras for video tolling for drivers without EZ Pass 15

16 Congestion Pricing is a congestion relief method that works by managing demand during peak traffic periods Congestion pricing uses higher toll rates during peak periods to encourage drivers to: shift to less congested times shift to less congested routes shift to transit shift to other lanes −key factor for express toll lanes 16 Congestion pricing can provide sustainable relief by managing peak use even as travel demand grows demand

Most popular tolling method for new projects Gives drivers a choice pay a toll & bypass congestion most drivers value having a choice −across all income levels Congestion relief proven & effective tool for congestion management No tolls - free No toll - free Toll required general purpose lanes express toll lanes general purpose lanes Express Toll Lanes: one form of congestion pricing 17

18 Existing and Planned Managed Lanes

19 Miami: successful & effective express lane project ( Debora Rivera & Mayor Gilbert) 19

20 Shoulder HOV Lane General Purpose Lanes 12’12’ Lanes13’ 85’ BEFORE Shoulder Express Lanes General Purpose Lanes 10’ 8’ 1’ AFTER 11’ Lanes 85’ Shoulder 20 Key points about Miami’s project large reduction in congestion additional lane built largely within existing footprint of I-95

Transit plays a vital role in corridor & must be part of the solution What can be done to enhance its role? Rail service How will I-95 tolls affect rail ridership? How to address parking problems? How to serve growing # of ‘intrastate’ trips? Bus service What bus service improvements are needed? New opportunities: express toll lanes …. 21

Successful in other cities o Buses avoid congestion on highway Fast & reliable service Attract more riders o Flexible routing off the highway Serve wider market Serve more commuter lots Express Toll Lanes: present new opportunities 22

23 Concluding remarks Multimodal study assessing a variety of congestion relief options: highway, transit, & pricing o Pricing can provide sustainable relief It will assess whether pricing can help manage congestion in I-95 corridor Will be completed in early 2015