Skip to main content

Transurban survey shows the benefits of express lanes

A survey from toll operator Transurban finds that the Virginia Express Lanes have reduced travel times and increased lane speeds, including the main lanes. According to data extracted from the University of Maryland’s Regional Integrated Transportation Information System, drivers in the regular lanes on the Capital Beltway and I-95 have experienced reduced travel times and faster speeds since the Express Lanes opened. As expected, drivers who take the Express Lanes experience significant travel time sav
May 15, 2015 Read time: 3 mins
A survey from toll operator 600 Transurban finds that the Virginia Express Lanes have reduced travel times and increased lane speeds, including the main lanes.

According to data extracted from the University of Maryland’s Regional Integrated Transportation Information System, drivers in the regular lanes on the Capital Beltway and I-95 have experienced reduced travel times and faster speeds since the Express Lanes opened.  As expected, drivers who take the Express Lanes experience significant travel time savings when they choose to take the Lanes.

“Northern Virginia is notorious for being one of the most congested areas in the country,” said Nic Barr, vice president, Operations, Transurban.  “The Express Lanes are helping to alleviate congestion and improve travel times, not just in the Express Lanes, but in the regular lanes as well.  The improvements the Express Lanes have delivered to the entire corridor are a testament to why projects like the Express Lanes benefit all drivers – not just those who choose to take the Lanes.”

According to the data, which compares peak travel times for each day of week from Garrisonville Road to Franconia Road in February 2014 versus February 2015, drivers in the regular I-95 northbound lanes have experienced reduced travel times since the 95 Express Lanes opened in December 2014.

The data also reveals that drivers in the northbound regular I-95 lanes experienced faster lane speeds at peak travel times in February 2015 than they did in February 2014.

Drivers in the regular I-95 northbound lanes see the biggest improvement to travel times and lane speeds on Thursdays, saving an average of 23 minutes and travelling an average of 21 mph faster on a northbound trip from Garrisonville Road to Franconia Road.

Drivers who choose to take the 95 Express Lanes experience even more significant travel time savings.  For a full-length peak southbound trip in February 2015, the maximum travel time savings realised was nearly 2.5 hours.

According to the data, which compares peak travel times for each day of week on the Capital Beltway from I-95 to Route 267 in March 2012 – before the 495 Express Lanes opened – versus March 2014, drivers in the regular northbound lanes are experiencing reduced travel times.

The data also reveals that drivers in the northbound regular Capital Beltway lanes experienced faster lane speeds at peak travel times in March 2014 than they did in March 2012.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • How British drivers compare in European responsible driving survey
    April 2, 2015
    With 16 million UK motorists set to take to the roads this Easter weekend, a new European survey finds that risky driving habits and failure to respect the rules are on the increase. The annual survey carried out for Vinci Autoroutes Foundation for Responsible Driving by IPSOS examined the behaviour of drivers from ten European countries. Each year, this survey draws up an inventory of driving practices and trends, allowing closer targeting of methods to prevent irresponsible driving and promote safer ro
  • Integrating traffic systems improves management and control
    April 25, 2012
    Following a successful trial in 2007, VicRoads has adopted Streams Motorway Management from Transmax as its primary traffic management and control system Throughout the world, the avoidable social cost of traffic congestion continues to rise each year with increased motorisation, urbanisation and population growth. Traffic congestion is responsible for an increase in travel times, vehicle operating costs and carbon emissions. In 2007, VicRoads commissioned Streams Motorway Management for the M1 Monash Freew
  • Challenges and benefits of adaptive signal control
    April 23, 2013
    Delcan’s Joe Lam, who managed the first computerised signal system in the world, provides an expert insight into adaptive signal control. There are no gadgets in the world that regulate our daily behaviour as much as traffic signals, except perhaps our mobile phones. It has been estimated that the daily commuter goes through at least 10 signals on his journey to work. However, unlike mobile phones, traffic signals cannot be ignored or switched off by their daily users, at least not without legal consequence
  • San Francisco area toll network to issue RFP for 90 miles of express lanes
    September 23, 2013
    Bay Area Infrastructure Financing Authority (BAIFA) has announced the competitive procurement of a toll system integrator (TSI) to design and provide toll systems for nearly 90 directional miles of toll express lanes and expects to be tolling a total of 270 miles within a few years. The plan is to develop toll express lanes following agreement on a regional network in which all the area's HOV lanes will be tolled for single and two occupant vehicles. The RFP covers three initial projects: 55 kilometres o