IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA USDOT Congestion Reduction Demonstration Program Grant ($110M)

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1 IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA USDOT Congestion Reduction Demonstration Program Grant ($110M) HOV to HOT: 15 miles Convert from 2+ HOV to managed (3+ free) Project includes Express Lane component, new park-and-ride lots, and new passenger coach buses 2009 ADT: 180K 260K Opened: October 1, 2011 All-electronic tolling Peach Pass required for all vehicles Dynamically priced Source: Georgia DOT, State Road & Tollway Authority

2 IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA Opening Month News Articles I-85 HOT Lanes May Make Traffic Worse Official Poll: I-85 Hot Lanes Most Hated Concept GA/I-85 Express Lanes Wild Start Tolls too High, Lanes Near Empty, Governor Steps in I-85 Hot Lanes have State Lawmakers Considering Action HOT Lanes Have Some Metro Drivers Confused No Vision, Focus or Direction in State Transportation Plans Deal Lowers Tolls on I-85 HOT Lanes State: I-85 HOT Lanes Reach Capacity During Morning Rush

3 IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA Opening Month Daily Trips Approximate Capacity

4 IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA Opening Month Average Daily Toll Governor & Legislative Intervention

5 IH 85 EXPRESS LANES ATLANTA, GA Lessons Learned Things we have learned: Early, extensive, and continuous public involvement efforts. Don t simply tell the media, include them as stakeholders in the process. Begin with fixed tolling, rather than dynamic, to allow for adequate ramp-up time and to avoid public backlash. Do not introduce a confusing system where the traveler cannot anticipate what to expect. Avoid the appearance that financial revenue is the driving force for pricing the lanes. Probably better to begin with a lower toll initially, and increase only when the lanes are full. The worst public image is empty lanes where a toll is being charged.

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7 REGIONAL MANAGED LANE WORKING GROUP Mission of Committee To help guide the transition from independent interim HOV (2+) facilities to a managed lane system (3+ incentive) on or before permanent CDA managed lanes open.

8 REGIONAL MANAGED LANE WORKING GROUP Steps Toward Implementation Issues that must first be addressed: Do the current interim HOV lanes have extra capacity? (how much, when) Do we physically have the room for the gantries and toll collection equipment on each facility? Do we have room for occupancy verification and enforcement? If no on above, can we develop other toll collection equipment or occupancy verification systems either on-site or off-site? When can we implement this in each corridor? Can they be implemented concurrently? Are there planning and/or regulatory constraints? Are any changes needed to the existing RTC managed lane operating and revenue-sharing policies? How do we best communicate this to stakeholders and customers?

9 REGIONAL MANAGED LANE WORKING GROUP Steps Toward Implementation Issues that must first be addressed: Do the current interim HOV lanes have extra capacity? (how much, when) Do we physically have the room for the gantries and toll collection equipment on each facility? Do we have room for occupancy verification and enforcement? If no on above, can we develop other toll collection equipment or occupancy verification systems either on-site or off-site? When can we implement this in each corridor? Can they be implemented concurrently? Are there planning and/or regulatory constraints? Are any changes needed to the existing RTC managed lane operating and revenue-sharing policies? How do we best communicate this to stakeholders and customers? System Continuity & NEPA Consistency Subcommittee Regional Managed Lane Working Group Managed Lane Outreach PIO Subcommittee

10 REGIONAL MANAGED LANE WORKING GROUP Steps Toward Implementation Most Immediate Issues: Occupancy requirements: 2+ to 3+ Toll collection/occupancy declaration verification and enforcement methods System-wide implementation and connectivity Phasing: incremental by corridors vs. concurrent all corridors Institutional actions required