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.

Related Content

  • January 7, 2013
    Rail safety technology launched in Central Minnesota
    New safety technology being installed along some rail lines across the US, including Central Minnesota, aims to prevent deadly train crashes caused by human error. The technology is designed to automatically stop or slow a train to prevent accidents such as a collision with another train or a derailment caused by excessive speed. The changes stem from federal legislation passed in 2008 after a commuter train collided head-on with a freight train in California, killing twenty-five people and injuring 135. An
  • February 6, 2012
    Improving, integrating weather monitoring for safer roads
    Paul Pisano, USDOT Federal Highway Administration, and Charles Harris, Noblis Inc, chart progress in the US of Maintenance Decision Support Systems for winter maintenance and weather management
  • July 20, 2015
    New report indicates reduction in London’s pollution
    A new report, produced by experts at King's College London, for the first time quantifies the health and economic effects of the air pollutant nitrogen dioxide (NO2), where all previous studies have focused on particulate matter (PM2.5). Combined together the effects of both pollutants reveal a higher health impact than previously estimated after taking into account this further pollutant. The study also found that nearly half the health impacts are caused by air pollution outside London such as diesel
  • March 29, 2017
    Why the US said ‘yes’ to public transportation on 8 November
    Historic funding boost reflects America’s awareness of transit’s contribution to economic growth and quality of life. Something unexpected happened on Election Day 2016, a result nobody expected; public transportation was a clear winner. There were 49 transit-related funding initiatives on ballots across the nation, of which about 70% were passed.