Skip to main content

Studies show HOV conversion to HOT improves transit

According to a December 2015 report from American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials, converting from high occupancy vehicle (HOV) to Express Lanes (HOT) benefits transit. Across the US, transit ridership and speeds increase when HOV goes HOT. Data from major cities that converted to Express Lanes show positive results, such as Miami, where 53 per cent of passengers said tolling affected their decision to use transit. Average bus travel increased from 18 to 55 mph on the I-95 E
February 4, 2016 Read time: 2 mins
According to a December 2015 report from 4944 American Association of State Highway and Transportation officials, converting from high occupancy vehicle (HOV) to Express Lanes (HOT) benefits transit.  Across the US, transit ridership and speeds increase when HOV goes HOT.  
 
Data from major cities that converted to Express Lanes show positive results, such as Miami, where 53 per cent of passengers said tolling affected their decision to use transit. Average bus travel increased from 18 to 55 mph on the I-95 Express Lanes and average weekday ridership increased 57 per cent from 2008-2010 to August 2011, while travel time decreased from 25 to eight minutes.

In Miami, average bus travel speed increased from 18 to 55 mph and travel time decreased from 25 to 8 minutes. Average weekday passengers increased 57 per cent from 2008-2010 to August 2011.

On-time performance increased for bus rapid transit on I-110 Metro ExpressLanes in Los Angeles, while average daily peak period passengers increased by 52 per cent in the morning peak and 41 per cent in the evening peak after USDOT-funded service was added. Passengers increased again by 29 per cent in the morning peak and 25 per cent in the evening peak after tolling began.

Bus speeds in Minneapolis increased and bus travel times decreased after I-35W converted to HOT lanes.

Critically, across these cities on average, one third of new transit riders previously drove alone.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Traffic congestion rise in Europe a ‘sign of economic recovery’
    March 4, 2014
    A new report from leading traffic information and driver services provider Inrix shows traffic congestion in Europe rose in 2013 for the first time in two years. According to the 2013 annual Inrix Traffic Scorecard, traffic congestion across Europe increased approximately six per cent in the last three quarters of the year. The amount of time British drivers spent in traffic throughout the year has risen slightly, from 29 hours in 2012 to 30 hours in 2013. This puts the UK in sixth place in Europe, behi
  • Study shows Irish speed cameras provide five-fold benefit
    April 30, 2015
    Ireland’s mobile speed cameras have been shown to save lives and money but face a legal challenge. David Crawford reports. In 2011 the Republic of Ireland introduced mobile safety cameras on dangerous roads which have, according to the country’s first cost-benefit analysis of the technology, saved an average of 23 lives a year.
  • US toll roads stable for 2014, says Fitch
    December 18, 2013
    Within a broader review of US transport infrastructure securities, including ports and airlines, Fitch Rating analysts say the recent slow growth in aggregate traffic is likely to continue but that many established toll roads look financially solid because of their pricing power - tolls that have been well below revenue maximising levels. Their pricing power has been somewhat reduced, Fitch says, by strong increases in toll rates on many toll roads, which mean they have less scope for big increases in to
  • Canadian city pilots technology to improve traffic flow, safety
    August 21, 2015
    The City of Edmonton, Canada is piloting new traffic technology to help drivers get where they need to faster, easier and more safely, with the help of the University of Alberta's Centre for Smart Transportation. The city is testing an Advisory Driving Speed system on one of the city’s major freeway where the legal speed limit is 80 km/h and which experiences congestion issues during peak periods. Signage informs drivers of the recommended speed they should travel to avoid traffic jams and sudden stops,