MPC
Research Projects (2006-07)

Identifying Number

MPC-282

Project Title

Analysis of the I-15 Express Lane Pilot Project: Salt Lake and Utah County, Part 1A

University

University of Utah

Project Investigator:

Peter T. Martin, Associate Professor
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Utah

External Project Contact

Rukhsana (Shana) Lindsey, P.E.
Director of Research & Bridge Operations
4501 S. 2700 W. - Box 148410
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-8410
Office: (801) 965-4196
Fax: (801) 965- 4564
E-mail: rlindsey@utah.gov

Project Objective

Innovative lane management offers the opportunity to levy fees for premium road space. Express Lanes offer road users reduced journey times for a fee. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will soon convert the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 15 (I-15) from 600 North Street in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, to University Parkway (SR-265) in Orem, Utah County. The Express lane will be shared by subscribers and high occupancy vehicles.

This project has the potential to introduce a radical innovation to the road users of the State of Utah. For the first time, travelers in the metropolitan Salt Lake Valley wlil be exposed to the price mechanism. The project raises important political and social questions. We need to understand how the adaption works in terms of traffic impacts and user needs. The evaluation will go beyond the confines of a routine traffic assessment. It will have to address such disparate concepts as equity, efficiency, economy, safety, and viability. It will call for a measured approach in understanding the nuances of the objectives of the scheme. It will require a high level of communication, sensitivity, and discretion.

The purpose of the proposed adaption of existing HOV lanes to HOT is to optimize usage of the lanes. Operationally, the existing lane should carry as many people as possible without decreasing the travel advantages and diminishing their incentive to carpool.

The intent of the proposed project is to prepare for a complete set up HOT lanes in the existing HOV lanes of I-15 using electronic toll collection. Because funding for this configuration is still being identified, the initial project proposed consists of adapting the existing HOV lanes to a HOT facility this summer with re-striping and re-signing of the project corridor to keep costs low in the meantime. For this interim stage, a prepaid sticker program will be implemented that will require a visible sticker be placed on Single Occupant Vehicles (SOV) for enforcement personnel to visually determine if the SOV should be in the HOT lanes during the implementation period of the full project. As long as UDOT determines the lanes operate within established parameters and the sticker program is successful, the electronic toll-collecting system will be complete as soon as funding can be identified.

Project Abstract

Managed Lanes is an idea whereby highway lanes are designated special use. The first lanes were bus lanes. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOB) lanes gave preference to car-poolers. The Utah DOT is experimenting with the concept of an "Express lane". Road users will be offered the opportunity to buy access to a lane formally reserved for HOV users. This project will serve to inspect, analyze, and report on the experiment.

Research Objectives

While there is a large data collection component, the project differs from most research projects. There are many questions:

• What can we learn from other States?
• How are the egress and accesses working?
• What are the impacts on I-15 user costs overall?
• What does the Express Lane experiment do to flows on the General Purpose (G-P) lanes?
• How will existing HOV lane users be affected?
• What are the temporal characteristics of subscribers?
• Are there measurable benefits for subscribers?
• What are the operational implications of Express lanes during incidents?
• Does the Express Lane influence HOV violation rates?

Task Descriptions

1. Define detailed scope
2. Assess state of the practice of managed lane schemes nationwide
3. Review and analyze previous HOV lane studies
4. Procure High Definition Video Camera, and peripheral equipment
5. Liaise with HNTB on their data collection methods and findings
6. Establish optimum control settings to supply traffic data
7. Test alternative observation locations
8. Collect, collate, and present preliminary information
9. Report findings, review responses, revise survey techniques

Milestones, Dates

Item	To Be Completed By
Formation of Technical Advisory Committee	July 1, 2006
Agreement on Work Task/Project Scopes	September 1, 2006
Bi-Monthly meeting reports	Sept. 1 - June 30; 2007

Yearly and Total Budget

$153,998

Student Involvement

Fourteen graduate research assistants will be employed on the project.

Relationship to Other Research Projects

This project is new and is no relationship to others

Technology Transfer Activities

Data sharing; database development

Potential Benefits of the Project

Innovative lane management offers the opportunity to levy fees for premium road space. Express Lanes offer road users reduced journey times for a fee. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) will soon convert the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 15 (I-15) from 600 North Street in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, to University Parkway (SR-265) in Orem, Utah County. The Express lane will be shared by subscribers and high occupancy vehicles.

TRB Keywords

Traffic operations; traffic control; safety; emergency planning