# High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Pooled Fund Study (PFS)

######### 

######### Meeting Minutes

**Date: Wednesday, October 30, 2002**

**Time: 10:30 AM EDT**

**Participants:**

> Toby Rickman, Chair, Washington DOT
>
> Antonette Clark, Caltrans
>
> Katherine Graham, Virginia DOT
>
> Laine Rankin, New Jersey DOT
>
> Steve Allen, Tennessee DOT (alternate for Don Dahlinger)
>
> Wayne Ugolik, New York State DOT
>
> David Schumacher, San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board
> (guest)
>
> Jon Obenberger, FHWA
>
> Chuck Fuhs, Parsons Brinckerhoff
>
> Chris Carroll, Parsons Brinckerhoff
>
> Jeff Benson, URS
>
> Ming-Shiun Li, URS

### Introductions (Chair)

**Review Action Items (Obenberger)**

**Technical & Administrative Support for HOV PFS (Obenberger)**

Jon Obenberger introduced URS as the new program support contractor for
the PFS. Jeff Benson of URS is leading the support effort. The
transition of program support from Chuck to Jeff will take place in the
next few weeks. Jon praised the remarkable work that Chuck and his staff
have done for the program.

> Jeff Benson briefly introduced URS and the supporting staff for this
> program support. A pool of experts, including Paul Bay, David Dickey,
> and Tom Cerny, will be available to provide technical expertise in
> developing and reviewing projects and position papers. Ming-Shiun Li
> will be the key staff and the main contact for members with respect to
> technical and administrative support.

**Annual Meeting in December (Chair)**

-   **Review Draft Agenda (Obenberger)**

> Jon reviewed the draft agenda. HOV PFS funding status will be reviewed
> and discussed in the annual meeting. Jon indicated that he would work
> with URS to send an e-mail to states that have not obligated funds for
> 2002.
>
> Jon and Chuck will develop and send two-page proposals to member for
> review prior to the PFS annual meeting in December. Members will
> prioritize and select projects in the annual meeting.

-   **Logistics Travel Requirement and Coordination (Benson)**

Jeff indicated the instructions for travel and travel expense report
form were sent to members who require travel reimbursement from FHWA for
attending the annual meeting. Jeff briefly discussed the instructions
for air travel and hotel reservations. Jeff asked members to forward
their travel plans to him, and URS could make the air travel
reservations. A block of hotel rooms has been reserved for the annual
meeting participants. Jon suggested that URS send additional hotel
reservation information to members.

-   **Update on HOV Facility Tour (Clark)**

Antonette Clark noted that due to the early peak period in the morning,
it would be better to start the tour early on Friday. Alternatively, she
suggested, the tour could take place on Thursday afternoon when there is
more congestion and HOV demand on the system. The group decided to have
the tour on Friday, December 13. The group will meet at the hotel lobby
of the Hyatt Newporter at 6:00 AM. Caltrans will provide a van for the
tour and return to the hotel at approximately 9:30 AM after a brief stop
for breakfast.

**Review and Discuss List of Proposed Projects (Chair)**

-   **Review Process & Schedule to Select Project (Obenberger)**

-   **Review Next Steps & Member Action Items (Obenberger)**

Jon reviewed the project selection process and the schedule. Currently,
13 draft project proposals are under review. Members should submit
rankings on the 13 initial project proposals to Chuck by November 5,
2002. Project proposals will be revised and submitted to members for
2^nd^ review by November 8, 2002. Members should provide comments and
issues to consider integrating into project proposals by November 13,
2002. Based on comments, final draft proposals will be revised and
distributed to members for review in late November/early December, and
project review, revision and selection will take place in the annual
meeting.

-   **Review of Proposed Projects (Fuhs)**

-   **Questions & Review Comments on Proposed Projects (Members)**

Chuck reviewed the 13 draft project proposals.

1.  *HOV Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Guidance*

2.  *HOV Data Collection and Data Management*

> Wayne Ugolik suggested this project could be included in the first
> project, or the two projects could be combined as one. Antonette
> expressed that the two projects should be kept separate. Jon noted
> that this project could focus on data recording and management issues
> and requirements related to planning and design applications, HOV data
> warehouse, and specific stakeholder needs. For the next round of
> review, the two will be modified based on comments and kept separate.

3.  *Design and Operational Assessment of Lane Separation Treatments*

4.  *Development of a Statewide HOV Policy Committee*

> Jon suggested that it would most likely be a 3-tier policy --
> statewide, regional and local levels. Statewide policy could be
> difficult to develop due to regional and local differences. Antonette
> indicated, for California, the statewide policy would be somewhat
> loose due to regional differences.

5.  *Assessing Impacts of HOV Facilities on Air Quality*

6.  *Identifying Planning Criteria for High-Occupancy/Toll (HOT) Lanes*

> Chuck mentioned FHWA currently funds a project to provide a HOT Lane
> Manual for Planning. The manual should be released in the next few
> months. Chuck suggested members should get copies of the manual before
> pursuing this project proposal. Jon will attempt to get an early
> release of the Manual for member review.

7.  *HOV Enforcement Best Practices*

8.  *HOV Lane Safety Study Addressing Operation and Design*

> Jon suggested the project should address issues related to better
> accident data collection and recording. Antonette added literature
> research on best practices in safety data collection is needed.

9.  *Methods to Determine the Appropriate Hours of Operation*

> Jon commented the focus of the project should include data required,
> measures, and analysis tools. Antonette and Katherine suggested data
> collection and analysis methods as well as minimum occupancy
> requirements should be included. Chuck indicated the issues related to
> minimum occupancy requirements were included in Project No. 10.

10. *Guidelines for Changing HOV Eligibility Requirements*

11. *HOV and Managed Lane Signing & Delineation*

> Chuck briefly discussed the relationship between this project and the
> MUTCD Millennium Edition. Jon and Chris will send a TRB paper related
> to this subject to members in the next two weeks.

12. *HOV Marketing Manual*

> Chuck confirmed Jon's comment that the project would look into the
> development of Q&A for different stakeholders.

13. *HOV Project Inventory*

> Jon mentioned the HOV PFS web page is upgrading HOV inventory search
> capabilities. Members will soon be able to use the enhanced feature to
> search information in the HOV facility inventory on the web page.
> E-mail notice will be sent to members when the upgrade is complete.
> Antonette inquired if funding information of HOV projects would be
> included in the inventory. Jon replied it would be possible to include
> project funding information in this project but he would look into
> that further.

**Other Issues**

-   Jeff and Jon will prepare a draft solicitation letter for
    participation in HOV PFS in 2003 in the next two weeks and forward
    to the Chair for his review in early December.

-   Jeff noted that, to get lower airfares for the annual meeting, he
    would like to get everyone flying to the Orange County Airport. That
    may require flight connections for people especially from the East
    Coast. Group indicated that was okay.

**Summary of Action Items**

-   URS to work with Jon on funding status and send e-mail to states
    that have not obligated funds for 2002.

-   Jeff to send e-mail indicating details on hotel reservation
    information.

-   Group to forward travel plans for the annual meeting to Jeff for
    travel arrangements.

-   Members to rank project proposals and submit rankings to Chuck by
    November 5, 2002.

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-   Jon and Chris to send a TRB paper related to HOV signing and marking
    to members.

-   Jon and Chuck to develop and distribute revised project proposals to
    on November 8 along with list of projects that will be considered
    further and detailed 2-page project proposals developed.

-   Jeff and Jon to draft a solicitation letter for participation in HOV
    PFS in 2003 and forward to the Chair for his review and comments in
    early December.