May 23, 2011 APTA Bus & Paratransit Conference Metro ExpressLanes
Program Overview > Conversion of HOV lanes to HOT lanes on I-10 and I-110 > Multi-modal Integrated Corridor Emphasis > 1 of 6 Nationwide Federal Demonstration Projects for Congestion Pricing > Goal: Move More People, Not More Vehicles
Metro ExpressLanes Project Goals >Move More People, Not More Vehicles >Increase Throughput of HOT Lanes >Effectiveness (Mode Shift) >Efficiency (Cost of Project Relative to Benefits) >Equity (Address Impact on Low Income Commuters) >Educate Community (Extensive Community Outreach) >Execute as a 1-Year Demonstration Project 64 separate cars
Federal Grant - $210 Million Transit Facility Park & Ride Lot Improvements, Station Expansion, Maintenance Facility Transit Operations New Buses, Dual Hub BRT, Vanpools Express Park Parking Management Toll Technology & Infrastructure Bottleneck Improvements, Additional HOT Lane
Silver Line BRT Improved Transit Facilities El Monte Station Patsaouras Plaza Harbor Transitway Improves On-Time Performance 59 New Clean Fuel Buses Service Enhancements M-F: Every 10 min during peak Expanded Weekend Service ExpressLanes Rewards Program Promote Vanpools Local Silver Line Local
Concept of Operations ExpressLanes Demonstration I-110 Harbor Transitway Lanes Only Business Rule SOV Pay HOV 2+ Free I-10 El Monte Busway Lanes Only All electronic open road tolling Dynamic, segmented pricing assembled by trip Dedicated Enforcement CHP Officers Dedicated Incident Response Tow Trucks Access Points Same as Current HOV access SOV Pay HOV-2 Pay: Peak Hours (5am 9am; 4pm 7pm) HOV-2 Free: Off-Peak Hours HOV 3+ Free All Hours
ExpressLanes Toll Policy > Optimize vehicle throughput at free flow speeds through dynamic pricing threshold is 45 mph > Minimum toll per mile: $0.25 > Maximum toll per mile: $1.40 > Toll-free travel for vehicles that meet the minimum occupancy requirement, motorcycles, and privately operated buses > All vehicles are required to have a transponder > Tolling will shutdown when travel speeds fall below 45 mph for more than 10 minutes > Trucks are not allowed (other than 2-axle) > Net Toll Revenues are Reinvested in Corridor in Transit or Carpool Lane Improvements
Transponder Upgrade > Can Self-Declare Vehicle Occupancy > SOV > HOV 2 > HOV 3+ > Allows Carpools/Vanpools to be Automatically Identified So They Don t Get Charged a Toll > Requires Pre-paid Balance to Off-set Charges When Not Carpooling/Vanpooling
Planned Improvements I-110 > Widen Adams Blvd to add right-turn lane > Sidewalk re-located to create pedestrian plaza
Planned Improvements I-10 Majority of westbound HOV traffic exits at I-710 Add one additional HOT lane in each direction between I- 710 and I-605 Minor widening Design exceptions are required
ExpressLanes are Green Corridors I-10 Eastbound PM Peak Travel Speeds Fuel consumption improves 30% 40% GP Lanes with HOV GP Lanes with Express Express Lanes HOV Lanes
Balanced Approach to Equity > State Law Requires Assessment of Impact to Low Income Commuters 1 st in the State > Low Income Commuter Assessment (LICA) Peer Review by USC, UCLA, and EDF; Draft Reviewed by Corridor Advisory Groups > LICA Approved by Metro Board March 2010 > ExpressLanes Toll Credit Program: $25 Toll Credit (one-time), $3 monthly account maintenance fee waived (ongoing) 1 st in the State > Significant Transit Investment (before revenue operations and after) > Net Toll Revenues reinvested in transit & carpool lane improvements in the corridor where generated
Key Performance Measures > Arriving at your Destination in Less Time in either the ExpressLanes or General Purpose Lanes (travel time savings, avg vehicle speed) > Change from Driving Alone to Carpooling, Riding Transit and or Vanpool (mode shift) > Increase in Efficiency by Moving More People on the ExpressLanes in a specified period of time (person throughput) > Improved Transportation Access for Low Income Commuters (surveys, credit redemption)
Project Schedule Description 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Toll Policy Low Income Commuter Assessment Environmental Documents Approved Preliminary Engineering Privacy Policy Award Design-Build-Operate-Maintain Contract TO BE COMPLETED Launch Marketing Campaign Begin Construction ExpressLanes Open to Traffic www.metro.net/expresslanes
Summary of Transit Advantages > Significant investment in transit stations. Increase in transit service prior to opening the ExpressLanes > Toll-free travel for public transit & privately operated buses > Minimum peak tolls shall be no less than 150% of Metro transit fare on the ExpressLanes > Toll Credits are available to frequent ExpressLane transit riders > Net toll revenues are reinvested in transit improvements in the corridor where generated