TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS:
GETTING THE MOST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK!
GPA Fall Conference 2013
Kyle Mote
GDOT Office of Planning
October 10, 2013
Agenda
• What are Managed Lanes?
• Managed Lanes in Georgia
– Where we were
– Where we are
– Where we are going
• Managed Lane Strategies
• Prioritization of Managed Lane Projects
• Next Steps
What are Managed Lanes?
Managed Lanes in Georgia
WHERE WE WERE
2009 Atlanta Regional
Managed Lane System Plan (MLSP)
• First regional managed lanes
plan in the country
• In 2009, there were no
Priced Managed Lanes in the
Atlanta region (only HOV
lanes)
• Identified $16 Billion in MLs
• $5.9 Billion programmed in
current Atlanta MPO Plan
2009 Managed Lane System Plan Goals
Managed Lanes in Georgia
WHERE WE ARE
Managed Lane Corridors Currently in
Operation or in Development (Priced & HOV)
Managed Lanes in Georgia
WHERE WE ARE GOING
New Planning Assumptions
Moving Forward
• All new limited access capacity in Metro Atlanta
will likely be tolled
• Remove HOV2+ to HOT3+ conversions from MPO
TIP
• Eliminate assumptions of long-term concession
agreements
• Evaluate lower-cost managed lane treatments
Managed Lane Implementation Plan
(MLIP)
• Updating MLSP as part of Managed Lanes Implementation Plan
(MLIP) to:
–
–
–
–
Build upon previous MLSP goals
Reflect current funding constraints
Identify feasible locations for managed lane projects
Redefine and reprioritize projects from the previous plan based on
current and future needs
– Prioritize list of managed lane projects and accompanying financing
strategies (P3 and traditional funding sources)
• Incorporate recommendations into RTP and TIP update, as
appropriate during 2013-2014
Innovations and Emerging Findings
• Consider traditional managed lane solutions
– New Lanes
• Considering non-traditional managed lane solutions
– Shoulder lanes
– Reversible lanes using movable barriers
– Option: use reversible barrier and shoulder lanes in
conjunction with each other
• Intent is to not “reduce” current travel options for
motorists
Managed Lane Strategies
SHOULDER LANES
Shoulder Lanes – Typical Section
BEFORE
Shoulder Lanes – Typical Section
AFTER
Shoulder Lanes - Case Studies
Shoulder Sign in Washington State
• Washington State - US 2
– 1.5 miles during PM only
• Minneapolis
– 3.0 miles during AM & PM
– Use left shoulder
– Region wide bus shoulders
• UK M42 Highway
– 10 miles
– Shoulders used in conjunction with variable speed limits
• Netherlands
– Use left and right shoulder
Shoulder Lanes - Considerations
• Shoulder pavement depth
• Shoulder width
• Bridge spans and pillar
locations
• Entrance/exit ramp
locations and volumes
• Additional signage
• Refuge sites (incidents and
emergency access)
• Segment length
SR 400 Shoulder Lane (Atlanta, GA)
Source: www.itsinternational.com
Shoulder Lanes - Lessons Learned
• Manage expectations, not all shoulders lend themselves
to travel
• Capital costs vary dramatically based on existing
infrastructure
• Develop active traffic management system concept
• Pre-determine enforcement roles/processes, incident
response, training, public outreach and education
• Strategic placement of emergency refuge areas, with
proper signing
• Strategic placement of video cameras to monitor traffic
Corridors Selected for
Shoulder Lane Evaluation
Limited Shoulders
Limited Shoulders
Limited Shoulders
Limited Shoulders
Managed Lane Strategies
MOVEABLE BARRIERS
Moveable Barriers – Typical Section
BEFORE
Moveable Barriers – Typical Section
AFTER
Moveable Barriers - Case Studies
• I-30/Thornton Freeway: Dallas, TX
I-93 Reversible Lanes in Boston
• 5.2 mile managed lane during AM & PM
• Increased speeds from 22 to 41 mph
• 1,200 – 1,400 vehicles per hour (vph)
• I-93: Boston, MA
•
•
•
•
6.0 mile managed lane during AM & PM
Flows at posted speed (55 mph)
1,500 - 1,800 vph
No increase in accidents
• I-70: West of Denver, CO
• 13.5 mile EB Sundays
• Significant decrease in EB travel times (79 to 41
min.) and increase in WB travel times (34 to 69 min.)
• 2% annual increase in crashes (snow conditions)
Source: Barrier Systems, Inc.
Moveable Barriers - Considerations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Directional split of traffic and number of lanes
Estimated benefit (travel time savings)
Capital and Operating & Maintenance costs
Bridge spans and pillar locations
Median and/or shoulder widths
Borrow inside lane or shoulder for reverse direction and/or widen
to the median
• Logistics of rev. lanes
• Additional signage
• Segment length
Source: Barrier Systems, Inc.
Moveable Barriers - Lessons Learned
• Plan ahead (traffic impacts, physical limitations,
storage, etc)
• Develop standard operating procedures
• Public education
• Spare parts inventory
• Aggressive preventative maintenance
• Adequate staffing for enforcement, traffic incident
management and maintenance
Corridors Selected for
Moveable Barrier Evaluation
Limited Shoulders
Directional Split,
MARTA Rail
Arterial, Grass Median
Directional Split
Grass Median
Limited Shoulders
Grass Median
Managed Lanes Implementation Plan
PROJECT PRIORITIZATION
Project Prioritization Structure
Goals
National & State Goals
Local Goals
Project Prioritization Structure
Project Prioritization Structure
No.
Themes
Performance Measures
Vehicle throughput and person throughput
1
Transportation mobility
Changes in travel speeds or travel time savings
Corridor reduction of vehicle delay
Facilitation of transit options
Revenue/mile
2
Financial feasibility
Cost/mile
Project financing index (PFI)
Managed lane system connectivity
3
System connectivity and
economic growth
Connectivity to major employment centers
Jobs accessed within 45 minutes of travel by car or transit
System preservation
4
System preservation and
environmental sustainability
Flexible lane management
Level of environmental impacts
Project readiness
5
Project support and readiness General constructability and schedule
Compatibility with regional plans
Managed Lanes Implementation Plan
NEXT STEPS
Next Steps
www.dot.ga.gov\MLIP
Kyle Mote
GDOT Office of Planning
(404) 631-1987
kmote@dot.ga.gov