Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief
22
Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief Robert W. Poole, Jr. Director of Transportation Studies Reason Foundation www.reason.org/transportation
description
Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief. Robert W. Poole, Jr. Director of Transportation Studies Reason Foundation www.reason.org/transportation. Not Just New Capacity: Priced Capacity. Value pricing keeps the lanes uncongested, offers premium service. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief
Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief
Robert W. Poole, Jr.Director of Transportation StudiesReason Foundationwww.reason.org/transportation
Not Just New Capacity:Priced Capacity
Value pricing keeps the lanes uncongested, offers premium service.During rush hours, priced lanes offer much greater througput.Self-generated revenues mean they can get built now, not “someday.”
What Types of Priced Capacity?
HOT LanesExpress Toll LanesExpress Toll NetworksTruck-Only Toll LanesNew beltwaysMissing links in freeway systems
HOT Lanes: A First Step
Priced lanes offer meaningful congestion relief to those willing to pay.Ensure use of all of the expensive capacity.Toll revenues can help pay for the large investment needed.High performance is sustainable, long-term.
Value Pricing Offers Precise Traffic Flow Control
I-15 quasi-real-time variable pricing91-Express: fine-tuned rate schedule, periodically adjusted
49% of peak traffic with 33% of lane capacity
Both offer reliable high speeds during rush hours.
91 Express Lanes, Orange County, California
Priced Lane Projects, 2006
Synergy of Priced Lanes and Bus Rapid Transit
Value-priced lane is virtual equivalent of exclusive busway (VEB).Pricing limits vehicle flow to what’s compatible with LOS C conditions.Reliable high speed is sustainable long-term, thanks to pricing.Houston implementing first VEB on Katy Freeway managed lanes.
VEB Prototype: Houston’s Katy Managed Lanes
3-way public-public partnershipTransit agency (METRO)Toll agency (HCTRA)State DOT (TxDOT)
4 new lanes in median, with value pricingHCTRA funds and manages the priced lanesMETRO guaranteed 65 buses/hr and 25% of capacity for bus + HOV3+LOS C to be maintained, via pricing and occupancy controls
Implications of Katy Agreement
Transit funding: no toll revenues to METRO, but still a great deal (free guideway).Busway capacity: 65/hr. is 62% increase; should be ample.FTA approval: granted, based on LOS C.Occupancy changes: going to HOV-3 now and HOV-4 as needed.Pricing sustainability: MOU commitment.
Network Comparisons
500-lane-mile VEB Network cost is $4 to $6 billion, based on Reason studies.250 route-mile light rail system cost is $31 billion, based on latest FTA data.250 route-mile heavy rail system would be $38 billion, per FTA.Plus, the VEB guideway would not depend on [limited] FTA funding.
Where can we add new capacity?
Go up—add elevated lanes above existing freewayGo under—bored tunnels under sensitive areas (e.g., for missing links)Re-use untraditional ROW:
Rail linesFlood plainsPower line corridors
Tampa’s elevated express toll lanes
Conclusions
Value-priced toll lanes provide “congestion insurance” for all motorists, even if they don’t use them often.A network of priced lanes is the virtual equivalent of a regionwide busway network, offering a low-cost alternative to rail.New capacity can be added above and below existing roads and lands, and along non-highway ROW.Toll revenues can pay for much of the cost of new priced capacity.
Adding Priced Capacity for Congestion Relief
Robert W. Poole, Jr.Director of Transportation StudiesReason Foundationwww.reason.org/[email protected]
