Document
Date Created
1998-01
Publisher
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Format
Description
This study is a direct follow-on from the results of a Congestion/Road Pricing Study conducted by Wilbur Smith Associates (WSA), in association with SRF Consulting Group (SRF) in 1997. The Congestion/Road Pricing Study evaluated the potential impacts of and public opinion related to a congestion road pricing program in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area and of a statewide vehicle mileage tax. The study concluded with identification of key issues regarding possible road pricing. As a result of the Congestion/Road Pricing Study, a proposal for adding capacity through high occupancy toll lanes was made.
This new study, Toll Lane System Preliminary Feasibility Study, was commissioned to evaluate the impacts of a series of added-capacity lanes on most freeways in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. An extensive market research program was also carried out to identify public reaction to the policy and operational aspects of pricing on new capacity in order to define a Communications Plan for Mn/DOT's ongoing Congestion Relief Toll Lane System Initiative.
The region's plan is to promote transit and carpooling by adding lanes on the area's most congested freeways. The added capacity lanes are intended for the use of high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) free of charge. To make maximum use of excess capacity in the HOV lanes, single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) would be allowed into the new lanes if they paid a toll. The basic system studied is based on Mn/DOT's Transportation System Plan (TSP) and Metropolitan's Council Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). Additional segments were added to the base scenario to test various concepts and alternative configurations.
This study analyzed the anticipated use of the toll lanes under a variety of rates, the effect of the additional capacity on adjacent "free" lanes, and operational implications of such a system, and estimated system costs and revenues. In addition, a ramp meter bypass buy-in program was also analyzed.
This new study, Toll Lane System Preliminary Feasibility Study, was commissioned to evaluate the impacts of a series of added-capacity lanes on most freeways in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area. An extensive market research program was also carried out to identify public reaction to the policy and operational aspects of pricing on new capacity in order to define a Communications Plan for Mn/DOT's ongoing Congestion Relief Toll Lane System Initiative.
The region's plan is to promote transit and carpooling by adding lanes on the area's most congested freeways. The added capacity lanes are intended for the use of high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) free of charge. To make maximum use of excess capacity in the HOV lanes, single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) would be allowed into the new lanes if they paid a toll. The basic system studied is based on Mn/DOT's Transportation System Plan (TSP) and Metropolitan's Council Transportation Policy Plan (TPP). Additional segments were added to the base scenario to test various concepts and alternative configurations.
This study analyzed the anticipated use of the toll lanes under a variety of rates, the effect of the additional capacity on adjacent "free" lanes, and operational implications of such a system, and estimated system costs and revenues. In addition, a ramp meter bypass buy-in program was also analyzed.
Collection Name
File Type
Rights Statement
Content Statement
This item was digitized from the original print text.
Physical Location
MnDOT Library
Persistent Link
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14153/mndot.16728