Accelerating Implementation of an Express Transit Network on Priced Managed Lanes With Active Traffic and Demand Management and Public-Private Partnerships

Some metro areas have plans to add new lanes to freeways to create express toll lane networks that public transit and carpool vehicles may use for free. A full network can take decades to complete. This paper analyzes an approach to accelerate completion of a full network using an innovative concept that synergistically combines three innovations: (1) demand-based tolling on an existing general-purpose (GP) lane or high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane; (2) adding GP capacity during congested periods using a part-time shoulder travel lane; and (3) managing travel demand using cash rewards to incentivize commuters to use transit or ridesharing, complemented with improved first-mile/last-mile access to express transit stations at mobility hubs adjacent to freeways. Our analysis suggests that the toll revenues could be adequate to support operating costs in moderately congested metro areas and in addition, finance needed highway and multimodal capital investments in severely congested metro areas.