1. February 26, 2012 Managed Lanes Overview Dr. Adrian Moore Vice President Reason Foundation http://reason.org

2. 1 Key Issues: OUTLINE  What are Managed Lanes?  Where Are Managed Lanes Nationwide  Key concerns about Managed Lanes  Benefits of Managed Lanes

3. 2 What Are Managed Lanes?  Specialized, rather than General Purpose, lanes  Variable pricing, to keep traffic flowing uncongested  Usually limited to cars, vans, buses  Two ways to create: – Conversion of under-performing HOV lanes – Creation of new lanes (added capacity)

4. 3 Managed Lanes Projects, 2011

5. 4 Managed Lanes Networks  In Long Range Transportation Plan already: – Atlanta – Dallas – Houston – San Diego – San Francisco – Seattle  Being considered: – Los Angeles – Miami-Dade/Broward/Palm Beach Counties – Washington, DC

6. 5 Typical Concerns about Managed Lanes  “Lexus Lanes”  “Paying twice”  Discouraging carpooling  Rights of way, adequate room

7. 6 The “Lexus Lanes” Issue  Data on commuter attitudes (San Diego, Seattle)  Data on usage (91X, I-15, I-394, SR 167)  High income uses somewhat more frequently  But all economic sectors use lanes at least some times when the need to  Women slightly more likely to be users  Win-win (GP lanes benefit, too)  Common-sense comparisons (restaurants, airlines, Amtrak, Postal Service)

8. WSDOT Data on Managed Lanes Usage 7

9. 8 “We’ve Already Paid For These Lanes”  Usually applies only to conversions  Best answer: HOV-2 not working well  If empty lanes, taxpayers not getting full value from expensive pavement.  If congested, motorists aren’t getting promised benefits.  If new capacity, the money is seldom there for new GP lanes, or concerns they will simple become congested quickly.

10. 9 Do Managed Lanes Decrease Carpooling?  No evidence of carpooling decrease  Significant increase on I-15 MLs in San Diego  Conversion definitely reduces violators  Inevitable shift from HOV-2 to HOV-3 in congested corridors might reduce carpools in the ML itself.

11. Rights of Way/Room to Expand Tampa’s elevated reversible express toll lanes—6 lanes in 6 ft

12. 11 Benefits of Managed Lanes  Optimize use of all roadway capacity  Increase throughput compared with GP lanes during peak periods  Enables Bus Rapid Transit  More choices for travelers (“congestion insurance”)  Reduce emissions of increase travel  Expand economic opportunity  Generates revenue to pay at least part of costs  Widespread public and political acceptance.

13. Current long-range transportation plans don’t reduce congestion Metro LRTP $ Transit TTI Area%TransitMode Share20032030 2005-203020032030 Atlanta38%6.78.41.461.85 Denver27%5.06.41.401.80 Los Angeles58%4.87.41.751.94 Miami68%4.3 5.01.421.84 SF Bay64%6.97.31.541.86 Honolulu50%5.7* 8.91.191.31 *2000

14. I-95 Miami Managed Lanes: A real success story by any measure  Daily toll traffic now exceeds 50,000 paying vehicles  20% of total daily traffic (higher in peaks)  Annual revenue tracking at about $18-20 million  Phase I only; southbound direction only opened for 5 months  Strong return on project that cost less than $100 million to convert… including toll systems and dynamic signing  Express Lanes above 45 MPH over 99.5% of the time  Cut overall average peak period travel times in half for all users, and by two thirds for Express Lane users! 13

15. Speed (mph) Travel Speeds (Northbound - PM Peak Period) Travel Time (8 mile trip) Average Peak Period Time Savings = 14 Minutes Travel Time (Northbound Peak Period) Impacts on Peak Period Speeds and Travel Times After Conversion Before Conversion 14

16. 15 Synergy of Managed Lanes and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)  Value-priced lane is virtual equivalent of an exclusive fixed guideway.  Pricing limits vehicle flow to what’s compatible with LOS C conditions.  Reliable high speed is sustainable long-term, thanks to pricing.  Miami has implemented on new I-95 Express Lanes.  S.F. Bay Area planning regionwide express bus on its HOT Network.

17. 16 Managed Lanes Main Lanes BRT Station Direct Access Road To Arterial Direct Transit Access Ramps I-15 Transit Station

18. 17 Choices NowRail TransitManaged Lanes Slow buses Congested roads Congested lanes Rail TransitFree flowing Managed Lane Bus Rapid Transit

19. 18 Emission Reductions From San Francisco Bay Area Network

20. 19 Economic Benefits of Atlanta’s ML Network (2030) Employment-shed (with Managed Lanes) Employment-shed (without Managed Lanes) < 45 min. 45 – 90 min. Travel Time Opportunity for 196% increase in workers within 45 minutes of Downtown

21. Approve 88% Don’t Know 1% Disapprove 11% Don’t Know 6% Disapprove 28% Approve 66% FasTrak CustomerOther I-15 Users Approval of Managed Lane Program On I-15 20

22. Approval of Program by Group 21 Age Percent Approval Ethnicity Income ($000’s)

23. 91 Express: A popular option  Over 150,000 Vehicles equipped with Transponders  Typically only one in five used in a given day  15-20% of total traffic uses toll lanes  Much higher share in peak hours  Preset Variable toll rate structure  Tolls range from about $1.00 to $10.00 for 10 mile trip  Very high level of public approval 22

24. 23 Ethnicity Percent Agree Income ($000’s) “People who drive alone should be able to use the I-15 Express Lanes for a fee?”…. Agree or Disagree?

25. Somewhat Agree 25% Somewhat Disagree 5% Strongly Disagree 5% Somewhat Agree 31% Somewhat Disagree 11% Strongly Disagree 14% Don’t Know 2% Strongly Agree 65% Strongly Agree 42% FasTrak CustomerOther I-15 Users FasTrak Program Reduces Congestion On I-15 24

26. Don’t Know 5% Extend Express Lanes 37% Add Regular Lanes 26% Build Other Roads 21% Add Transit 11% Extend Express Lanes 49% Add Regular Lanes 24% Build Other Roads 13% Add Transit 10% Don’t Know 4% FasTrak CustomerOther I-15 Users Single Most Effective Way to Reduce Congestion On I-15 25

27. Summary Managed Lanes have a track record of: Improved Flow and reduced congestion Improved Bus transit operations Very popular where they are in place 26