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/transportationbobp@reason.org