From the Scope of Study section: This report presents the results of the Minnesota Highway User Cost Allocation Study. A cost allocation study provides information on the fairness of highway user taxes and fees with respect to different vehicle classes such as automobiles, buses, and various types of trucks. The degree of fairness, or equity, is determined by comparing the highway-related charges paid by each vehicle class to its fair share of highway-related expenditures (referred to as that class's "cost responsibility"). Based upon these findings, changes in the road financing structure could be proposed if needed to increase equity by bringing user payments more closely in line with cost responsibilities for each vehicle class.
This report details the results of a study on the traffic flow and safety impacts of ramp metering, and it meets the legally mandated deadline of February I, 2001. It is the result of a study that was conducted in an independent and objective manner by a nationally recognized consultant team at a cost of $651,600. The study served two important public purposes:
1) It thoroughly documented the benefits resulting from ramp metering to traffic operations and related factors such as air quality in the Twin Cities metro region. Analysis of field data indicates that ramp metering is a cost-effective investment of public funds for the Twin Cities area,
2) It demonstrated the need for Mn/DOT to adjust its approach to ramp metering in a way that will optimize benefits while conforming to public expectations. Analysis of market research data shows that a clear majority of users of the Twin Cities metro region highways support continued operation of ramp meters as a congestion management tool in some modified form.
The combination of these two factors point towards the adoption of an overriding principle regarding the operation of ramp meters in the Twin Cities. This principle would seek to "balance the efficiency of moving as much traffic during the rush hours as possible, consistent with safety concerns and public consensus regarding queue length at ramp meters."
The goals and objectives for evaluating ramp meter effectiveness in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Region were designed to investigate system performance and public acceptance of the new ramp metering strategy. Implemented following the shutdown - as described in Section 1.0, page 1-2. The Phase II evaluation goals include:
1. To evaluate whether the benefits of the new ramp metering strategy outweigh the impacts and associated costs;
2. To identify the impacts of the new ramp metering strategy at selected surface streets; and
3. To evaluate the impacts of the new metering strategy on freeway-to-freeway ramps.
For each of the broad evaluation goals, several detailed evaluation objectives were identified. These evaluation objectives provided the framework for conducting the evaluation. Table 2.1 presents the evaluation objectives as they relate to each of the evaluation goals. The following sections describe in greater detail the tasks required to fulfill each of the evaluation's three main goals and associated objectives.
This report summarizes the approach, findings, and recommendations of the Minnesota Truck Size and Weight (TS&W) Project led by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) in cooperation with other public and private stakeholders. The purpose of the project is to assess changes to Minnesota's TS&W laws that would benefit the Minnesota economy while protecting roadway infrastructure and safety.
