Pilot Programs Qualified Veteran Free Fixed Route & HOV/HOT Lane Usage Public Safety, Customer Service & Operations Committee February 2016
Pilot Program Options METRO will develop two (2) Pilot Programs to serve qualified veterans: 1. Fixed Route Service: Free rides on all METRO fixed routes (local bus, rail and park & ride) 2. HOV/HOT Lanes: Free use of the HOV/HOT Lanes for single occupancy vehicles (SOV) during non-peak hours ONLY Qualified Veterans Section 504.202 of the Texas Transportation Code determines the issuance of license plate: Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, Purple Heart and Disabled Veteran (a Disabled Veteran is as a person who has suffered, as a result of military service, at least 50% serviceconnected disability or 40% service-connected disability because of the amputation of a lower extremity.) Determination will be made by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs Regional Office, or appropriate service branch. 2
Pilot Program 1: Veterans Use of Fixed Route Service Free rides on METRO s Local Bus, Rail and Park & Ride for qualified veterans Registration with METRO required, similar to Senior Pass issuance Determine Qualification Issue pre-programmed Q Card 3
Pilot Program 2: Veterans Use of HOV/HOT Lanes Develop long-term strategy for lane management and consistent operation with other tolling authorities in the region. Free use of the HOV/HOT Lanes as an SOV during non-peak hours ONLY Registration of plate and tag with METRO required; to determine qualification & signed application of consent of rules & regulations for use of lanes 4
Regional Toll Discounts Approximately 25,000 of these qualifying special license plates (Medal of Honor, Legion of Valor, Purple Heart and Disabled Veterans) are registered to people living in Harris and surrounding counties. Other Texas toll authorities Veteran discount policies: Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) Free - No Tag Required Fort Bend County Toll Road Authority (FBCTRA) Free - Tag Required Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Free - No Tag Required North Texas Toll Authority (NTTA) NONE Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority (CTRMA) NONE Northeast Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NETRMA) NONE METRO does not currently allow free access for Qualified Veterans to use the HOV/HOT Lanes as an SOV. 5
Board Direction on Pilot Program 2 Veterans Use of HOV/HOT Lanes Option 1: Registered Toll Tags Qualified Veterans will register their existing plates & tags with METRO, or obtain a tag Pass through TOLL ONLY declaration lane Registered tags will read as no-charge activity Requires TransCore to make software & back office system changes to register & read tags Estimated cost of changes is $75,000 6
Option 1: Registered Toll Tags Pros Track utilization of the lanes, providing quantitative results for the pilot program Other HOV/HOT Lane users will consider them valid users since they are going through the TOLL ONLY Lane as an SOV METRO will be consistent with the existing business rule, which requires all SOV patrons to have a tag to use the HOV/HOT Lanes Monthly reports, provided by TransCore, segregating the HOV, SOV and Qualified Veteran usage Cons This option will require qualified veterans to register their plates and tags with METRO before using the HOV/HOT Lanes Requires TransCore to make software and back office system changes for registered tags to be read as no-charge, at an estimated cost of $75,000 TransCore will require 4-6 months to complete software changes & implement METRO issued Veteran tags are good for METRO HOV/HOT Lane ONLY 7
Board Direction on Pilot Program 2 Veterans Use of HOV/HOT Lanes Option 2: Windshield Decal Qualified Veterans will receive a windshield decal upon registration with METRO Pass through HOV ONLY declaration lane Avoids another authority s toll tag being charged Visible decal confirms registered SOV during MPD enforcement Survey s will be issued to registered qualified veterans to gather pilot program data 8
Option 2: Windshield Decal Pros Requires no additional cost for software or back office system changes Decals can be created in-house Can be implemented in 1-2 months Cons Does not allow quantifiable results on the usage of lanes Other HOV/HOT Lane users will consider them cheaters since they are going through the HOV ONLY Lane as an SOV Additional responsibility on MPD during enforcement to identify windshield decals when qualified veterans pass through the HOV ONLY lane as an SOV 9