General Update March 2010

Background As the region grows, increased travel demand on our aging Metro Highway System will continue to create additional transportation challenges –Preservation –Safety –Congestion

Year 2030 Congestion

Funding constraints Adding capacity to fully eliminate congestion would cost more than $40 billion over next 20 years If used alone, state gas tax would need more than $2 per gallon increase

Constrained budgets Transportation plans have called for major expansion to mitigate congestion Many major projects carried over from plan to plan 2009 plan left 12 major expansion projects unfunded, estimated at $3 billion

State Road Construction Program 2013 to 2030 (in millions)

Year 2030 Congestion

Non-funding constraints Physical right-of- way issues Social equity issues in urbanized corridors Environmental challenges

Policy direction Metropolitan Council Transportation Policy Plan Mn/DOT Metro District Highway Investment Plan Mn/DOT Statewide Transportation Plan

Regions congestion needs 21 st century solution System-wide management Technology-based applications Multi-modal approach Strategic capacity expansions Fiscally-constrained approach

System-wide management Active Traffic Management (ATM) applications Lower-cost/high- benefit capacity and safety improvements New managed lanes

Managed lane system Move more people, more reliably Facilitate increased capacity within existing rights of way Provide greater speed/reliability for transit Encourage greater transit use Provide congestion-free managed lanes for those who choose to pay or ride transit

Supporting strategies Travel demand management (TDM) Land use changes Transit investments

Maximizing efficiency Our goal is to effectively use every inch of pavement so that we have the most efficient transportation system possible. Victor Mendez, Federal Highway Administrator September 2009

New investment strategy Realistic Innovative Focuses available funds for most system-wide benefit

Benefits of new approach Recognizes uncertainties of transportation revenue forecasts Creates reservoir of prioritized projects Allows flexibility to advance projects if additional revenues arise Provides greatest regional benefit if current revenue forecasts prove true

System management used locally Freeway Operations: cameras, loop detectors, ramp meters, changeable message signs Arterial Operations: Coordinated signal routes High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes (HOV) implemented on I-35 & I-394 Bus only shoulder system 511 Traveler information Freeway Incident Response and Safety Team (FIRST) Pricing -- MnPASS and Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA)

Freeway Incident Response and Safety Team (FIRST )

Freeway Operations Cameras, loop detectors, and ramp meters –Most expansive system in the nation –First ramp meter placed into operation in 1969 –Today, there are more than 400 ramp meters in operation

22 Twin Cities Bus Only Shoulder Network

HOV conversion to MnPASS MnPASS implemented on I-394 in 2005 –Approximately 13,600 transponders in operation.

MnPASS expanded on I-35W Opened in September transponders currently in operation

Current Initiatives Governors –Next Stage MnPASS Implementation Study –I-94 Improvements between Minneapolis and Saint Paul –Lower Cost/High Benefit Congestion project acceleration Reassess major projects Search for preservation and lower cost safety, mobility solutions Continued expansion of the following networks: –Bus-only shoulder, –Freeway Ops, –Traffic Ops, –ATMS, –MnPASS –FIRST routes New operations and management tools… T.B.D.

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January 28 th Policymaker Workshop: What we learned We are not alone –Many other metro areas are dealing with similar congestion issues –Options successfully instituted in other states include: tolling (even across all lanes) dynamic pricing –Management strategies in a single lane can increase speeds in general purpose lanes

January 28 th Policymaker Workshop attendee survey Most respondents agreed that a new investment approach is needed Respondents are supportive of a managed lane system in the metro region Support shown for lower cost high benefit type projects

MHSIS Timeline April-May 2010Stakeholder outreach May 2010Draft plan amendments available for review August 2010Public comment period begins September 2010Public hearing on plan amendments October 2010Record closes on public comment November 2010Council & MnDOT adopt final plan amendments