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Speeches

Urban Road Pricing:
US DOT Congestion Initiative and Urban Partnerships

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Slide 1

Urban Road Pricing:
US DOT Congestion Initiative and Urban Partnerships

14th World Congress on ITS
IBEC Special Session
October 10, 2007
Beijing Exhibition Centre
Beijing, CHINA

Jeffrey F. Paniati
Associate Administrator, Office of Operations
Federal Highway Administration

Slide 2

Congestion Pricing - The Options

A chart displaying congestion pricing - options: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing); Cordon or Area Pricing; Region - Wide Charges

Slide 3

Congestion Pricing - Today

A chart displaying congestion pricing - today: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) and Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) highlighted with San Diego, Minneapolis, Denver and SR91 (California); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing); Cordon or Area Pricing; Region - Wide Charges

Slide 4

Congestion Pricing of Excess HOV Facility Capacity (HOT Lanes)

Fees for SOV use vary based on traffic  levels:

I-394 MnPass Express

Lanes in Minneapolis (dynamic pricing, real-time).

I-15 FasTrak Lanes

In San Diego (quasi-dynamic, every 6 minutes).

I-25 Express Lanes

In Denver (variable pricing) all using electronic transponders.

An image of MnPass Logo.An image of Interstate 15 (I-15) Shiled.An image of I-25 Eexpress Lanes.

Slide 5

Congestion Pricing of New Lanes

SR 91, Orange County, CA

  • Four new lanes in median, 10 miles
  • Tolls vary according to a fixed schedule -- $1.25 to $10.00

An image displaying a message sign: 91 Express Lanes - Toll: $2.50 - FasTrak Only-No Cash.

Slide 6

USDOT's Congestion Initiative: A Six-Point Plan

  • Relieve urban congestion.
  • Unleash private sector investment resources.
  • Promote operational and technological improvements.
  • Establish a "Corridors of the Future" competition.
  • Target major freight bottlenecks and expand freight policy outreach.
  • Accelerate major aviation capacity projects and provide a future funding framework.

Slide 7

Urban Partnership Agreements - Congestion Pricing

  • Congestion Pricing is a key component of the USDOT Congestion Initiative (Relieve Urban Congestion element) - Urban Partnerships.
  • Integrated "4T" Strategy .
    • TOLLING (pricing) - Key Element
      • Direct user charge based on use of facility; varies based on level of congestion
      • Toll collection via electronic means (no booths)
    • Transit
    • Telecommuting/Travel Demand Management
    • Technology
  • About $850 million in USDOT Discretionary Funds.

Slide 8

Urban Partners

An image of the United States Map displaying Urban Partners: Seattle, San Francisco, Minneapolis - St. Paul, New York City, and Miami

Slide 9

Congestion Pricing - The Progress

A chart displaying congestion pricing - options: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity) and Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New) highlighted with Minneapolis - St. Paul and Miami; Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing); Cordon or Area Pricing; Region - Wide Charges

Slide 10

Minneapolis - St. Paul Urban Partner

  • I-35W between downtown Minneapolis and the southern suburbs.
    • Existing HOV lanes converted to dynamically-priced HOT lanes (similar to existing MnPASS operation).
    • Existing HOT lanes extended.
    • Shoulder lanes dynamically priced.

Slide 11

Miami Urban Partner

  • 21 miles of HOT lanes on I-95 from Fort Lauderdale to downtown Miami.
  • Raise HOV limit from HOV2 to HOV3+.
  • Expand 10-lane highway to 12 lanes (by reducing the width of the existing lanes from 12 to 11 feet and using a portion of the shoulder).

Slide 12

Congestion Pricing - Urban Partners

A chart displaying congestion pricing - options: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing) highlighted with Seatlle and San Francisco; Cordon or Area Pricing; Region - Wide Charges

Slide 13

Seattle Urban Partner

  • Variable pricing on the State Route 520 floating bridge.
    • King County crossing that currently carries about 160,000 people per day between Seattle and its Eastside suburbs.
    • Tolls on the existing bridge are intended to help pay for the new bridge.

Slide 14

San Francisco Urban Partner

  • Variable pricing on Doyle Drive, the 1.5 mile elevated roadway leading to the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Will charge an extra 1-way-fee above the $5 toll on the Golden Gate Bridge.
  • Revenues will help pay to reconstruct the 70-year old Doyle Drive.
  • Creation of Integrated Mobility Accounts.
  • Variable pricing of on/off-street parking and city-owned garage spaces in downtown San Francisco.

Slide 15

Congestion Pricing - Urban Partners

A chart displaying congestion pricing - options: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing); Cordon or Area Pricing highlighted with New York City; Region - Wide Charges

Slide 16

New York City Urban Partner

  • Will charge drivers $8 and trucks $21 a day to enter or leave Manhattan below 86th Street on weekdays during the workday.
  • Those who drive only within the congestion zone would pay $4 a day for cars, $5.50 for trucks.

Slide 17

Congestion Pricing - The Future

A chart displaying congestion pricing - options: HOV to HOT Conversion (Use Excess Capacity); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (New); Variably or Dynamically Priced Lanes (Existing); Cordon or Area Pricing; Region - Wide Charges highlighted

Slide 18

Congestion Pricing - Region Wide Charges

  • Current Examples
    • Studies in Oregon and Seattle have tested mileage-based fees and peak-period driving charges.
    • Six State pilot with approximately 2500 participants to start in early 2008.

Slide 19

USDOT/FHWA Next Steps

  • Promote HOV to HOT Conversions through Tailored Technical Assistance.
  • Urban Partners.
    • Provide Direct Support to the Urban Partners.
    • Harness and Share Experiences.
  • Provide General Resource Material - Tailored Workshops and Seminars; Reference Material.
    • Value Pricing Pilot Program Lessons Learned.
    • Model Pricing Legislation.
    • "Making the Case" Outreach and Technical Support.

Slide 20

For More Information

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