![]() As a further benefit, commuters have the option to travel congestion-free on occasions when the value to them of doing so exceeds the toll.Īlthough the impacts of the 91X lanes on corridor traffic conditions have been largely favorable, freeway congestion has continued to increased, and the recent opening of the Eastern Toll Road (ETR) 2 has worsened that congestion, especially in the eastbound direction where eight lanes of traffic must now merge into six lanes where the SR 91 crosses the county line. The presence of the value-priced by-pass lanes has resulted in an equilibrium under which the overall facility operates better than before. The express lanes are located in what had been one of the most heavily congested freeway corridors of California, with typical peak period delays before the project of 30-45 minutes.ĭuring the height of the peak, the 91X lanes now accommodate 1400-1600 vehicles per hour per lane, about the same as the adjacent freeway and more than the freeway had previously accommodated when severely congested before the 91X lanes opened. Our analysis shows that being female is the factor most strongly associated with toll lane use, while high income, age, education, and traveling to work all influence travelers' likelihood of obtaining transponders. While the frequency of toll lane use varies significantly with income, gender, age, and other characteristics, people from all demographic backgrounds use the facility. Although the majority of commuters do not find it worthwhile to pay the tolls every commute trip, with time and increasing congestion the percentage of toll lane users has increased. Summary of Principal FindingsĬontinuing experience shows that increasing numbers of commuters are willing to pay tolls to enjoy the benefits of reduced travel time, improved driving comfort, and the perception of improved safety. These include tolls which vary throughout the day in relation to demand and to congestion on the parallel freeway, the requirement for users to be registered customers and carry transponders, the use of discounted tolls as an incentive to high occupancy (3+) groups, photo-enforcement of toll violations, and the development and operation of the facility as a for-profit private enterprise. The SR 91 Express Lanes, which we refer to as the "91X lanes," incorporate a number of innovative features. The project provides two extra lanes in each direction, separated from the adjacent freeway by a "soft" barrier consisting of a painted buffer with pylons. The section of California State Route 91 (SR 91) containing the express lanes is located between the SR 91/SR 55 junction in Anaheim and the Orange/Riverside County Line. Key elements of the data set are available on-line at. The study also produced an extensive data set which is itself an important study product, since it provides opportunities for other researchers to explore aspects of the express lanes which are beyond the scope of the current study. The current report contains findings through mid-1999, supplementing a previous "final report" issued May 1998, which presents impacts through June 1997. Data analysis included calibration of models of the route (toll/non-toll), vehicle occupancy, transponder acquisition, and time-of-day choices of commuters as well as estimation of air pollution emissions. Data collection included traffic measurements, vehicle occupancy counts, transit ridership data, and comprehensive travel surveys with current and former commuters. This report documents more than five years of field observations, including about a year and a half of observations to establish baseline conditions before the facility opened. Some of these insights pertain to implementing value-pricing projects in other locations. As the first practical application of value pricing in the United States, this project provides many important insights, both technical and institutional. DOT-sponsored study to identify the impacts of the value-priced express lanes which opened on Decemin the median of State Route 91 in Orange County, Ca. This is the follow-up final report for a Caltrans and U.S. Modeling of Travel Choice and Elasticities Investigation of Corridor Travel Behavior Traffic, Trends, Driving Conditions, and Transit Printable Version ( PDF 2.38MB) CONTENTS: Home > Federal Programs > VPP Program > Project ReportsĬontinuation Study to Evaluation the Impacts of the SR 91 Value-Priced Express Lanes
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |