I-394 MnPASS NCHRP Domestic Scanning Tour November 13, 2009 Julie Johnson, P.E. Mn/DOT

Orientation 11 mile corridor 3 mile barrier separated reversible section 8 mile diamond lane section 5 EB and 6 WB access points in diamond section HOVs, transit and motorcycles free Fully electronic & dynamically priced

Problem & Solution I-394 opens in 1992 with HOV lanes funded by Federal Highway Administration Problem –Congestion continues to grow –Funding for new construction is limited –I-394 perception: Is HOV lane half empty or half full? 2002 Twin Cities HOV Study –HOV lanes operating at less than full potential –During peak, HOV lanes (3,053) are typically moving more people per lane than general-purpose lanes (2,076) –FHWA urged changes, but opening HOV lane to all traffic not permitted Solution: MnPASS Express Lanes

I-394 MnPASS Project Goals 1.Improve I-394 efficiency 2.Maintain free flow speeds for transit and carpoolers 3.Use revenues to improve highway and transit in corridor 4.Employ new technologies for pricing and enforcement

Toll Collection Set up a pre-paid MnPASS account Install transponder Antennae reads transponder in vehicle

Transponders Needed a transponder that: –Could be turned off by people when carpooling –MnPASS could read/write to –Was long lasting (5 year battery life) Tested gray – law enforcement couldnt see – went to white Decided to lease v. sell –Signup cost higher under the sales scenario - $40 plus cost of transponder ($24) –Inventory cost would have been higher (wed have had to have more of them readily available/around)

Technology - Tolling Antenna Approximate antenna weight = 10 lbs Multiple antenna readers are used over each HOT lane. Antenna readers are located at five locations along HOT lanes.

Dynamic Pricing Overview Adjust the toll rate dynamically to encourage or discourage users Maintain free flowing traffic in MnPASS lane (speeds greater than 45 MPH, >90% of the time) Rates determined based on: –Number of vehicles in HOT lane –Speed of the vehicles –Rate of change of traffic conditions

Dynamic Pricing Overview Rates are calculated each entry point Based on the maximum traffic density downstream of each entry point in the HOT lane

Adjust the rate calculation interval such that rapidly changing traffic conditions can be measured Raise the toll rate as traffic increases in order to control the LOS Allow the toll rate change to reflect the rate of change in traffic density Avoid large toll rate changes in a single rate calculation interval Managing Traffic

Dynamic Pricing Price based on HOT Lane Traffic Conditions –Data from Mn/DOT Loop Detectors Price updated every 3 minutes - using 6 minute averaged data Price set off of customizable rate tables –Existing price, level of service, and rate of change determine new price Price based on worst traffic density point down- stream of entrance Fee posted on overhead signs just before MnPASS lane access points

Dynamic Pricing Works Toll ranges $ $8.00 max –Overall average $1.17 (Year 4) –Peak average $ $4.00 –Off-peak average $0.25 per section –EB average $1.46 –WB average $0.79 –90% of all trips in were < $2.75.

Managed Trips Managed (tolled) trips (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Total 874, ,899942,408980,846 Eastbound 437, , , ,942 Westbound 436, , , ,904

Tolls Collected Collected tolls (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Total $575,559 $1,057,343$1,083,098$1,136,958 Eastbound $302,739 $696,589 $745,664 $795,293 Westbound $272,760 $360,754 $337,434 $341,656

Toll Comparison Tolling ($ $8.00) (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Overall Average $0.80$1.17 $1.14 $1.17 Peak Average $0.75-$1.10 $ $1.95 $1.16$1.21 Off-Peak average $0.25 Eastbound Average $0.69 $1.42 $1.44 $1.46 Westbound Average $0.62 $0.86 $0.79

Enforcement Increased enforcement thru partnerships with: –Minnesota State Patrol Petty misdemeanor with $142 fine Initial planning and equipment cost of $250K 8 hrs of enforcement on weekdays (4 hours am peak, 4 hours pm peak) Annual cost of $165K

Enforcement Supplemental tools –Mobile enforcement reader Antenna linked to PDA in enforcement vehicle Acknowledges valid transponder in vehicle when passing by the antenna/reader Provides transponder account information: when and where last read, tolls paid, etc

MnPASS Enforcement

Enforcement Results

50% of stops involved HOV or double white line crossing violations I-394 violations dropped by 50% HOV violations on I-394 are much lower than on I- 35W LocationPre- MnPASS Post- MnPASS I-394 Reversible 7%4% I-394 Diamond Lane 20%9% I-35W HOV23%33%

Safety: 12% Decrease in Crashes Average =560 * Compares data for year starting May 16 to May 15 of the next year

Diamond Lane Design

Travel speeds in the general purpose lanes increased by 2% to 15% Peak hour volumes increased 7 to 30%, while miles of congestion decreased Average Speed is 62 MPH, and 95% of time speeds above 50 mph ( required to be above 45 mph 90% of time as per FHWA ) Eastbound has 56% of trips and 70% of revenue Heavy usage days: Tue, Wed, Thu 70% of trips start or end in reversible road Speeds and Usage

I-394 MnPASS Toll Users 13,200 active transponders 10,400 active accounts –As of October 31, % of transponders used on a typical day –Average user makes two tolled trips per week Usage Higher Among –Full-time workers –Homeowners –Ages –Incomes over $50,000 –Women

I-35W MnPASS Toll Users As of October 31, 2009 (opened September 30, 2009): 3,700 active transponders 3,300 active accounts $19,610 in tolled revenue 24,754 tolled trips (including the PDSL)

Revenues Exceed Operating Costs Estimated FY09 All Revenues + Fees: $1.5M Estimated FY09 Operations costs: $1.1M Costs and Revenue (I-394): Revenues+Fees $.647M$1.286M$1.345M$1.428M$1.471M Operations costs $.790M $0.960M$0.971M$1.077M$1.266M Enforcement Costs $165K

I-394 Key Milestones May 05: MnPASS lanes open June 05: Change to peak period operations in non-barrier section Nov 05: New auxiliary lane opens Jan 06: Pricing algorithm adjustment May 06: 1-year anniversary Sept 06: 10,000 transponders leased Feb 07: surpassed $10,000 in tolls for one day and had highest weekly revenue (over $110,000) May year anniversary June 2007: surpassed 11,000 transponders leased May, year anniversary September, 2008: surpassed 12,000 transponders leased May, year anniversary September 30, 2009 Expanded to I-35W October, 2009: surpassed 13,000 transponders and 10,000 active accounts

International Award Winning Project TEAM FL

I-394 MnPASS Meeting Its Goals 1.Reduces congestion and increases safety Non-barrier separated access is safe and reduces infrastructure requirements 2.Dynamic pricing and technology works Free flow speeds maintained Lower violation rates 3.Revenues + Fees exceed operating costs in Years 2, 3, and 4. 4.Studying I-394 MnPASS Phase 2 5.Expansion of MnPASS system to I-35W 2009

Questions and More Information Visit Julie Johnson, P.E