"This report presents the results of a feasibility study of reversible high occupancy vehicle (RHOV) lanes that have been proposed for State Route 14 just north of the connection with Interstate 5 to the Sierra Highway/Angeles Forest Highway/Pearlblossom Highway on-off Ramps just south of the city of Palmdale....This project was initially conceived in the North County Combined Highway Corridor Study."--p.1
This paper examines the circumstances under which congestion pricing of an HOV lane might be appropriate, as well as the operational, legal, and public acceptance issues that bear on feasibility. Use of the I-10 (Katy Freeway) HOV lane is restricted to vehicles with three or more occupants (HOV3+) during the peak hours daily because the original HOV2+ eligibility produced demands approaching capacity and thus significant loss in operating speeds. However, the HOV3+ restriction results in significant excess capacity. In order to move more people during the peaks, METRO and TxDOT are considering allowing HOV2s to "Buy-in." The feasibility analysis shows that there is adequate capacity for up to 600 HOV2s during each peak period. Legal feasibility rested on three issues: 1) authority to toll, 2) authority to enforce, and 3) ability to receive revenues. Critical steps for achieving public acceptance include: 1) understanding historic public feedback nationally, 2) understanding local opinions (both users and general public), 3) developing a public education/information campaign, and 4) developing support among local officials. The approach to establish a pricing policy in Houston involved the following: 1) develop the pricing objectives, 2) determine relevant local mobility prices and related tolling practices, and 3) establish an initial strategy and setting an adjustment policy. The feasibility research has been completed and implementation plan prepared. The transit authority board and the state transportation commission have voted to proceed with a one-year trial beginning in 1997.
"TRB's National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 722: Assessing Highway Tolling and Pricing Options and Impacts provides state departments of transportation (DOTs) and other transportation agencies with a decision-making framework and analytical tools that describe likely impacts on revenue generation and system performance resulting from instituting or modifying user-based fees or tolling on segments of their highway system. Volume 2: Travel Demand Forecasting Tools provides an in-depth examination of the various analytical tools for direct or adapted use that are available to help develop the forecasts of potential revenue, transportation demand, and congestion and system performance based on tolling or pricing changes. Volume 1: Decision-Making Framework includes information on a decision-making framework that may be applied to a variety of scenarios in order to understand the potential impacts of tolling and pricing on the performance of the transportation system, and on the potential to generate revenue to pay for system improvements"--Publication information.
The Central City Arterial High Occupancy Vehicle Lane (HOVL) Feasibility Study was initiated to study the feasibility of potential HOV lane alternatives, using the Central City corridors to improve transportation mobility through and around the Central City area and to connect the Harbor Freeway Transitway to the El Monte busway.
