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

  • New riders get onboard the metabustrip
    October 5, 2016
    Bus travel booking is moving into the digital age as David Crawford discovers. A global surge in demand for intercity bus travel is fuelling new initiatives to make it easier for passengers to access information and book via the web by, fo example, using multi-sourced metasearch engines
  • WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff to manage California HOV project
    October 28, 2016
    The Contra Costa Transportation Authority in California, US, has awarded a contract to WSP/Parsons Brinckerhoff for construction management services for the completion of the I-680 HOV (high-occupancy vehicle) Express Lanes project. The Authority, in cooperation with the California Department of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Federal Highway Administration, seeks to improve traffic operations and relieve congestion with the construction of HOV express lanes on southbound
  • Ferrovial consortium to build I-77 HOT lanes
    June 30, 2014
    Cintra, a US subsidiary of Spanish infrastructure firm Ferrovial, is to be responsible for the development of the I-77 HOT Lanes Project led by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The US$655 million project, extending 26 miles from the I-77 connection with I-277 in Charlotte to the intersection with NC 150 in Iredell County, will enhance traffic connectivity between residential areas along the corridor and downtown Charlotte. The project includes the development of high occupancy tol
  • Remove 80 per cent of traffic lights to boost economy and road safety, says IEA report
    January 26, 2016
    In a new report, authors Martin Cassini and Richard Wellings of the UK Institute of Economic Affairs demonstrate what they say are the negative social and economic effects of the government’s traffic management strategy, and argue for policies that harness voluntary cooperation among road-users. Using case-studies from around Britain, in conjunction with evidence from successful schemes in both Holland and Germany, they estimate that approximately 80 per cent of traffic lights could be ripped out in the UK.