# Presentation: 718444

## I-394 MnPASS HOV Lanes

**High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Pooled Fund Study (PFS)**
**2005 Annual Meeting - May 17 and 18**

## Background

- 2002 Study:  Twin Cities’ high-occupancy (HOV ) lanes are underutilized while the adjacent general-purpose lanes are chronically congested.
- Need to preserve the transit and carpool advantage if allowing single occupant vehicles (SOVs) in the HOV.

## Background (Con’t)

- 394 HOV Lane built in 1992
- The funding source for HOV lanes, the 2002 HOV study, and the legislature established that the HOV lane cannot simply be opened to all SOVs
- In 2003, Legislature authorized HOV conversion to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes
- Strong bi-partisan support
- Community Task Force Established
-  September 2003 to September 2004

## Schedule of Milestones

- Construction
- Completed
- Testing -  Now through May
- Customer Service Center
- Opened on April 11, 2005
- Lane Striping
- Complete
- MnPASS I-394 opens
- May 16, 2005

## How will revenues be used?

- First, to pay the cost of project infrastructure, administration, maintenance and operations
- After that, 50% for transit improvements and 50% for corridor improvements (state law).
-  All improvements must be in I-394 area.

## MnPASS Objectives

- Improve efficiency of I-394:  increase person and vehicle-carrying capabilities of HOV lanes
- Maintain free flow speeds for transit, carpools, and MnPASS users
- Improve highway and transit in corridor with revenues generated by MnPASS
- Use electronic toll collection:  tags/transponders and readers - - no toll booths
- Employ new ITS technologies such as dynamic pricing and in-vehicle electronic enforcement

## I-394 Express LanesCommunity Task Force

- 22-person group of leaders and citizens appointed by the Governor and Lt. Governor and communities
- Bi-partisan and diverse make-up, local representatives
- Reviewed express lane issues
- Prices, access, enforcement, hours of operation, etc.
- Provided input to Mn/DOT
- Also sought input from interested people and groups
- Open Houses, Focus Groups, Community Council presentations

## MnPASS Express Lanes

-  Two-lane barrier-separated reversible section   and one-lane-per-direction diamond lane in the  middle of a four-lane freeway
-   10-12 miles long
-   11 access points in the diamond lane section
-   HOVs and transit free- no transponder needed
-   No heavy vehicles allowed
-   Managed through dynamic pricing

## Two Lane Barrier Reversible Lane

## Diamond Lane Design

## HOT Lane Access Points

## Toll Collection

- Dynamic pricing based on congestion
- Peak average $1.00-4.00; $8.00 max
- Off-peak average $0.25 per section

## Hours of Operation

- Diamond Lanes operate 24/7
- Reversible section
- Eastbound from 5:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
- Westbound from 2 p.m. to 4 a.m.
- Weekend schedule varied for special events
- First time open for use by SOVs

## Enforcement

- Essential to success of MnPASS
- Increased enforcement through partnerships with:
- Minneapolis Police Department
- Golden Valley Police Department
- Metro Transit Police
- Minnesota State Patrol
- Petty misdemeanor with $130 fine and a moving violation
- Technology will assist enforcement

## Flashing Beacon Enforcement

## Audio/Visual Mobile Enforcement Indicator

## Subscribing is Easy

- Four simple steps:
- Complete transponder lease agreement
- Provide credit card
- Receive transponder and instructions
- Get in and go

## How to Subscribe

- Online
- www.mnpass.net
- By phone
- 1-866-397-4334
- In person
- Customer Service Center, 2055 N. Lilac Drive, Golden Valley

## Evaluation Approach

- Two separate evaluation teams will coordinate in the overall assessment:
- Technical System Performance Evaluation
- Attitudinal Evaluation Team
- On-going evaluation activities will be conducted over the next two years.

## Technical Evaluation Goals 

- Why evaluate?
- To provide the public and decision-makers with information on the observed impacts
- To provide feedback on system performance
- To provide a solid foundation for any future decisions regarding potential expansion of the system
- To provide a reproducible evaluation framework

## Technical Evaluation Objectives

- Identify changes in:
- travel speeds and travel times
- person and vehicle throughput
- safety
- enforcement activity
- environmental factors
- Document operations, costs, revenues

## What’s the Biggest Tech. Evaluation Challenge?

- The MnPASS implementation will add a new variable (price) to what is already a dynamic operational environment
- Challenged is to isolate the impacts of the MnPASS system from the background changes when comparing conditions before and after deployment

## Questions and More Information

- Visit *www.mnpass.net*
- Contact Nick Thompson, Project Manager
- 651-634-5310
- _[nick.thompson@dot.state.mn.us](mailto:nick.thompson@dot.state.mn.us)_
- or
- Paul Czech, Planning Director
- 651-582-1771
- _[paul.czec@dot.state.mn.us](mailto:paul.czec@dot.state.mn.us)_