Transit/High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Transit/High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

General Description:

Transit/High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes separate transit and vehicles with more than one passenger from single occupancy vehicles, which allow them to travel at higher speeds and avoid congestion.  The main purpose is to increase the people-moving capacity rather than the vehicle moving capacity of the system.

 

Effects of Solution:

 

þ     Increase Passenger Throughput (Allows more efficient passenger movement)

¨     Increase Roadway Capacity

þ     Manage System Efficiency (Allows facilities to be used more efficiently)

¨     Reduce Local Demand

 

Passenger throughput is increased through the use of the transit lanes.  This manages the system’s efficiency by getting the most out of the existing infrastructure.  A system’s capacity may also be increased if separate lanes are constructed.

 

Examples of Implementation:

See Additional Resources for more information. 

 

Cost/Financial Information:

Source: A Toolbox for Alleviating Traffic Congestion and Enhancing Mobility, Institute of Transportation Engineers.  (Cost/financial information is estimated, and will vary based on size and scope of project, number of units, etc.)

 

The costs associated with the addition of Transit/HOV Lanes is similar to adding traditional lanes (see the Additional Lanes fact sheet).  Some Transit/HOV facilities may be separated from other traffic.  This is an expensive alternative, but it may be an alternative if additional right-of-way cannot be secured on current facilities.  Please see the New Highways/Routes fact sheet for more information.

 

 

Addition of:

Capital Cost

Operating/Enforcement Cost

 

Barrier Separated Lane

$4-6 mil/lane-mile 

$250-300K

 

Freeway Lane

$2-4 mil/lane-mile

$250-300K

 

A shoulder lane may be able to be used for transit purposes. See the Shoulder Lane as a Travel Lane fact sheet for more information.

 

Additional Resources:

                                   

A Toolbox for Alleviating Traffic Congestion and Enhancing Mobility; available for order at http://www.ite.org/bookstore/index.asp

 

North Carolina Department of Transportation HOV information web page: http://www.ncdot.org/hov/us/

 

Maryland Department of Transportation US 50 HOV information web page:

http://www.sha.state.md.us/businesswithsha/projects/oc/us50hov/welcome.asp