Pricing Catches On
The exciting first 4 months of pricing on a 13-k stretch of I-15's two reversible peak High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes is what Kim Kawada of the San Diego Association of Governments told participants about at the fifth regional congestion pricing workshop. Beginning in December 1996, Single Occupant Vehicles (SOVs) were allowed to purchase monthly permits (in the form of visual windshield stickers) to use the priced lanes, while HOVs continue to ride for free. The project will begin using electronic toll collection procedures within the year. Initial observations show continued strong demand for permits, increased HOV use in the HOV lanes, and high customer satisfaction. Data indicates that HOV usage has increased by 21 percent since the lanes opened in December.
HOV lanes like this will be used in a new, exciting way. Victoria Brox of United Infrastructure talked at the 1-day meeting held in Tampa about the world's first fully automated toll road -- a 16-k stretch of SR-91 in Orange County, CA, which opened in December 1995. The four new privately built and operated lanes, two in each direction, allow free travel to HOVs with three or more occupants, and variable priced travel to other vehicles, with prices ranging from $0.50 to $2.75 depending on time of day and day of the week. Overhead antennas and small windshield-mounted transponders allow automatic vehicle identification and toll collection from registered customers. SR-91 allows motorists to save 20 minutes or more each way during peak hours. Results continue to be evaluated.
John Berg, Leader of the Highway Revenue and Pricing Team at FHWA, concluded the session with an overview of the Administration's proposal for reauthorization of the program. The proposal would increase the Federal share of project funding to 100 percent (from 80) and the proposal would increase the number of pilot programs eligible for funding from 5 to 15. The program proposal expands allowable uses of toll revenues collected through the pilot projects to be used for any surface transportation purpose. Currently, the Congestion Pricing Pilot Program supports two implementation efforts, seven pre-project studies, and one study and evaluation project.
-- Theresa Smith, (703) 366-2425.
