High-occupancy toll lane: Difference between revisions
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The concept developed from [[high-occupancy vehicle lane]] (HOV) systems in order to increase use of the available capacity. Most implementations are currently in the USA. |
The concept developed from [[high-occupancy vehicle lane]] (HOV) systems in order to increase use of the available capacity. Most implementations are currently in the USA. |
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The first practical implementation was [[California]]'s formerly private toll [[91 Express Lanes]], in [[Orange County, California]], in 1995, followed in 1996 by [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]] north of [[San Diego]].<ref>{{cite web |author = Dave Downey | date= 2007-01-07|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01/08/news/top_stories/1707192359.txt|title = The HOT lane hype |publisher= The North County Times| accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author= |
The first practical implementation was [[California]]'s formerly private toll [[91 Express Lanes]], in [[Orange County, California]], in 1995, followed in 1996 by [[Interstate 15 in California|Interstate 15]] north of [[San Diego]].<ref>{{cite web |author = Dave Downey | date= 2007-01-07|url=http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/01/08/news/top_stories/1707192359.txt|title = The HOT lane hype |publisher= The North County Times| accessdate=2008-07-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Metropolitan Transportation Commission |url=http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm |title=High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) and High-Occupancy/Toll (HOT) Lanes: Frequently Asked Questions |accessdate=2008-03-01 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603081534/http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm |archivedate=2008-06-03 |df= }}</ref> According to the [[Texas A&M University|Texas A&M]] Transportation Institute, by 2012 there were 294 corridor-miles of HOT/Express lanes in operation in the United States and 163 corridor-miles under construction.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uli.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/When-the-Road-Price-is-Right_web_F.pdf|title=When the Road Price Is Right – Land Use, Tolls, and Congestion Pricing|author=[[Urban Land Institute]] (ULI) |publisher=Urban Land Institute|year=2013|accessdate=2013-04-09}} See Figure 2, pp.6</ref> |
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==Design== |
==Design== |
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==Criticisms== |
==Criticisms== |
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[[File:Miami traffic jam, I-95 North rush hour.jpg|thumb|right|Afternoon rush hour in Miami, where tolled express lanes have become congested and "closed".]] |
[[File:Miami traffic jam, I-95 North rush hour.jpg|thumb|right|Afternoon rush hour in Miami, where tolled express lanes have become congested and "closed".]] |
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Because HOT lanes and ETLs are often constructed within the existing road space, they are criticized as being an [[Ecotax|environmental tax]] or solely beneficial to higher-income individuals ("[[Lexus]] lanes"), since one toll category is charged the same rate regardless of socioeconomic status and the [[working poor]] thus suffer greater financial burden.<ref>{{cite web|date=2014-06-23|url=http://wlrn.org/post/are-lexus-lanes-really-lexus-lanes|title=Are Lexus Lanes Really Lexus Lanes?|publisher=WLRN|first=Kenny |last=Malone| accessdate=2015-04-28}}</ref> Supporters of HOT lanes counter with the fact that because they encourage the use of public transit and ride sharing, they reduce demand and provide [[Win-win game|a benefit for all]]. They also counter concerns about heavy impact against the working poor by pointing to the fact that the rich have many ways to ease their commute, such as buying a home closer to where they work.<ref>[http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm MTC Planning - HOV/HOT Lanes] Retrieved October 6, 2009</ref> |
Because HOT lanes and ETLs are often constructed within the existing road space, they are criticized as being an [[Ecotax|environmental tax]] or solely beneficial to higher-income individuals ("[[Lexus]] lanes"), since one toll category is charged the same rate regardless of socioeconomic status and the [[working poor]] thus suffer greater financial burden.<ref>{{cite web|date=2014-06-23|url=http://wlrn.org/post/are-lexus-lanes-really-lexus-lanes|title=Are Lexus Lanes Really Lexus Lanes?|publisher=WLRN|first=Kenny |last=Malone| accessdate=2015-04-28}}</ref> Supporters of HOT lanes counter with the fact that because they encourage the use of public transit and ride sharing, they reduce demand and provide [[Win-win game|a benefit for all]]. They also counter concerns about heavy impact against the working poor by pointing to the fact that the rich have many ways to ease their commute, such as buying a home closer to where they work.<ref>[http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm MTC Planning - HOV/HOT Lanes] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080603081534/http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/faq.htm |date=2008-06-03 }} Retrieved October 6, 2009</ref> |
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==Examples== |
==Examples== |
Revision as of 03:30, 2 April 2017
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5b/I-15_Express_Lanes.jpg/350px-I-15_Express_Lanes.jpg)
A high-occupancy toll lane (or HOT lane) is a type of traffic lane or roadway that is available to high-occupancy vehicles and other exempt vehicles without charge; other vehicles are required to pay a variable fee that is adjusted in response to demand. Unlike toll roads, drivers have an option to use general purpose lanes, on which a fee is not charged. Express toll lanes, which are less common, operate along similar lines, but do not exempt high-occupancy vehicles.
History
The concept developed from high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV) systems in order to increase use of the available capacity. Most implementations are currently in the USA.
The first practical implementation was California's formerly private toll 91 Express Lanes, in Orange County, California, in 1995, followed in 1996 by Interstate 15 north of San Diego.[1][2] According to the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, by 2012 there were 294 corridor-miles of HOT/Express lanes in operation in the United States and 163 corridor-miles under construction.[3]
Design
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Switchable_FasTrak_transponder.jpg/220px-Switchable_FasTrak_transponder.jpg)
Some systems are reversible, operating in one direction during the morning commute and in the reverse direction during the evening commute. It is typically collected using and electronic toll collection systems, automatic number plate recognition or at manned toll booths. Exempt vehicles typically include those with at least two, three or four occupants, those that use approved alternative fuels, motorcycles, transit vehicles and emergency vehicles.[4]
The fee, which is displayed prominently at entry points to the lanes, is adjusted in response to demand to regulate the traffic volume and thereby provided a guaranteed minimum traffic speed and level of service.[5][6][7] [8][9]
The Los Angeles Metro ExpressLanes HOT system requires vehicles to be fitted with manually "switchable" transponders where the driver selects the number of occupants, based on which the appropriate fee is charged.[10][11] California Highway Patrol officers have in-vehicle devices which display the declared occupancy of a vehicle, which they can verify visually and cite any driver(s) with fewer occupants than declared (and tolled for).[12] The new system proved itself to be highly effective in reducing the rate of lane-use violations, with it falling to 40-50% of the violation rates of other comparable CA highways, from more than 20-25% (nearly one out of four or five) to just 10% (one in ten). Other transportation officials in California took note of this, subsequently leading to the Bay Area officials of Alameda County to adopt a similar system for the (then) planned Interstate 580.[13]
Funding and construction
Implementation of these systems can be prohibitively expensive, due to the initial construction required—particularly with regard to providing access to and from the express toll lanes at interchanges. However, the long-term benefits—the decrease in delay to able motorists and increased funding for the transportation agency—may outweigh the costs. To offset costs of construction, many transportation agencies lease public roads to a private institution. As a result, construction may be partially or fully funded by the private institution, which receives all of the income from tolling for a specified period of time.[14][15]
Criticisms
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/69/Miami_traffic_jam%2C_I-95_North_rush_hour.jpg/220px-Miami_traffic_jam%2C_I-95_North_rush_hour.jpg)
Because HOT lanes and ETLs are often constructed within the existing road space, they are criticized as being an environmental tax or solely beneficial to higher-income individuals ("Lexus lanes"), since one toll category is charged the same rate regardless of socioeconomic status and the working poor thus suffer greater financial burden.[16] Supporters of HOT lanes counter with the fact that because they encourage the use of public transit and ride sharing, they reduce demand and provide a benefit for all. They also counter concerns about heavy impact against the working poor by pointing to the fact that the rich have many ways to ease their commute, such as buying a home closer to where they work.[17]
Examples
See also
References
- ^ Dave Downey (2007-01-07). "The HOT lane hype". The North County Times. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
- ^ Metropolitan Transportation Commission. "High-Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) and High-Occupancy/Toll (HOT) Lanes: Frequently Asked Questions". Archived from the original on 2008-06-03. Retrieved 2008-03-01.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Urban Land Institute (ULI) (2013). "When the Road Price Is Right – Land Use, Tolls, and Congestion Pricing" (PDF). Urban Land Institute. Retrieved 2013-04-09. See Figure 2, pp.6
- ^ "Exempt Vehicles".
- ^ FAQ - VA I-495 HOT Lanes Retrieved October 6, 2009
- ^ Brookings Institution economic study on HOT Lanes
- ^ MD I-95 Express Toll Lanes Retrieved October 6, 2009
- ^ "Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance".
- ^ "Golden Gate Bridge for variable toll".
- ^ "FAQs: FasTrak". Metro ExpressLanes. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ "FAQs: Driving Metro ExpressLanes". Metro ExpressLanes. Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ^ Metro ExpressLanes: Rules of the Road (YouTube). Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. July 24, 2012. 2 minutes in.
- ^ Richards, Gary (2014-07-11). "Bay Area carpoolers must use FasTrak in express lanes under new law". San Jose Mercury News. Retrieved 2015-07-05.
- ^ About I-495 HOT Lanes Retrieved August 31, 2009
- ^ A Guide for HOT Lane Development (FHWA, 2003)
- ^ Malone, Kenny (2014-06-23). "Are Lexus Lanes Really Lexus Lanes?". WLRN. Retrieved 2015-04-28.
- ^ MTC Planning - HOV/HOT Lanes Archived 2008-06-03 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved October 6, 2009
External links
- "HOT for Transit? Transit's Experience of High-Occupancy Toll Lanes" (PDF). National Centre for Transit Research (Center for Neighborhood Technology) at the University of South Florida. 2014.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - Various HOT lane articles on website dedicated to road pricing
- "Impacts of Increasing Vehicle-Occupancy Requirements on HOV/HOT Lanes" (PDF). Caltrans Traffic Operations. 2013.
- "Review of Road Pricing to Reduce Congestion" (PDF). U.S. Government Accountability Office. 2012. - includes evaluation of 21 HOT lane projects in the U.S.
- "High Occupancy Toll lane Performance Under Alternative Pricing Policies" (PDF). Transportation Research Forum. 2012.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - "A Lukewarm Report Card for High-Occupancy Toll Lanes". City Labs. 2012-02-02.
- "An evaluation of a high occupnacy toll (HOT) lane demonstrator project in San Diego". Association for European Transport. 1998.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help)