1. I-394 MnPASS NCHRP Domestic Scanning Tour November 13, 2009 Julie Johnson, P.E. Mn/DOT

2. Orientation 11 mile corridor 3 mile barrier separated reversible section 8 mile diamond lane section 5 EB and 6 WB access points in diamond section HOVs, transit and motorcycles free Fully electronic & dynamically priced

3. Problem & Solution I-394 opens in 1992 with HOV lanes funded by Federal Highway Administration Problem –Congestion continues to grow –Funding for new construction is limited –I-394 perception: Is HOV lane half empty or half full? 2002 Twin Cities HOV Study –HOV lanes operating at less than full potential –During peak, HOV lanes (3,053) are typically moving more people per lane than general-purpose lanes (2,076) –FHWA urged changes, but opening HOV lane to all traffic not permitted Solution: MnPASS Express Lanes

4. I-394 MnPASS Project Goals 1.Improve I-394 efficiency 2.Maintain free flow speeds for transit and carpoolers 3.Use revenues to improve highway and transit in corridor 4.Employ new technologies for pricing and enforcement

5. Toll Collection Set up a pre-paid MnPASS account Install transponder Antennae reads transponder in vehicle

6. Transponders Needed a transponder that: –Could be turned off by people when carpooling –MnPASS could read/write to –Was long lasting (5 year battery life) Tested gray – law enforcement couldnt see – went to white Decided to lease v. sell –Signup cost higher under the sales scenario - $40 plus cost of transponder ($24) –Inventory cost would have been higher (wed have had to have more of them readily available/around)

7. Technology - Tolling Antenna Approximate antenna weight = 10 lbs Multiple antenna readers are used over each HOT lane. Antenna readers are located at five locations along HOT lanes.

8. Dynamic Pricing Overview Adjust the toll rate dynamically to encourage or discourage users Maintain free flowing traffic in MnPASS lane (speeds greater than 45 MPH, >90% of the time) Rates determined based on: –Number of vehicles in HOT lane –Speed of the vehicles –Rate of change of traffic conditions

9. Dynamic Pricing Overview Rates are calculated each entry point Based on the maximum traffic density downstream of each entry point in the HOT lane

10. Adjust the rate calculation interval such that rapidly changing traffic conditions can be measured Raise the toll rate as traffic increases in order to control the LOS Allow the toll rate change to reflect the rate of change in traffic density Avoid large toll rate changes in a single rate calculation interval Managing Traffic

11. Dynamic Pricing Price based on HOT Lane Traffic Conditions –Data from Mn/DOT Loop Detectors Price updated every 3 minutes - using 6 minute averaged data Price set off of customizable rate tables –Existing price, level of service, and rate of change determine new price Price based on worst traffic density point down- stream of entrance Fee posted on overhead signs just before MnPASS lane access points

12. Dynamic Pricing Works Toll ranges $0.25 - $8.00 max –Overall average $1.17 (Year 4) –Peak average $1.00 - $4.00 –Off-peak average $0.25 per section –EB average $1.46 –WB average $0.79 –90% of all trips in 2008-09 were < $2.75.

13. Managed Trips Managed (tolled) trips (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Total 874,154 908,899942,408980,846 Eastbound 437,613 488,932 517,066 547,942 Westbound 436,541 419,967 425,342 432,904

14. Tolls Collected Collected tolls (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Total $575,559 $1,057,343$1,083,098$1,136,958 Eastbound $302,739 $696,589 $745,664 $795,293 Westbound $272,760 $360,754 $337,434 $341,656

15. Toll Comparison Tolling ($0.25 - $8.00) (Year 1) May 05 – April 06 (Year 2) May 06- April 07 (Year 3) May 07- April 08 (Year 4) May 08- April 09 Overall Average $0.80$1.17 $1.14 $1.17 Peak Average $0.75-$1.10 $1.05 - $1.95 $1.16$1.21 Off-Peak average $0.25 Eastbound Average $0.69 $1.42 $1.44 $1.46 Westbound Average $0.62 $0.86 $0.79

16. Enforcement Increased enforcement thru partnerships with: –Minnesota State Patrol Petty misdemeanor with $142 fine Initial planning and equipment cost of $250K 8 hrs of enforcement on weekdays (4 hours am peak, 4 hours pm peak) Annual cost of $165K

17. Enforcement Supplemental tools –Mobile enforcement reader Antenna linked to PDA in enforcement vehicle Acknowledges valid transponder in vehicle when passing by the antenna/reader Provides transponder account information: when and where last read, tolls paid, etc

18. MnPASS Enforcement

19. Enforcement Results

20. 50% of stops involved HOV or double white line crossing violations I-394 violations dropped by 50% HOV violations on I-394 are much lower than on I- 35W LocationPre- MnPASS Post- MnPASS I-394 Reversible 7%4% I-394 Diamond Lane 20%9% I-35W HOV23%33%

21. Safety: 12% Decrease in Crashes Average 2003-05 =560 * Compares data for year starting May 16 to May 15 of the next year

22. Diamond Lane Design

23. Travel speeds in the general purpose lanes increased by 2% to 15% Peak hour volumes increased 7 to 30%, while miles of congestion decreased Average Speed is 62 MPH, and 95% of time speeds above 50 mph ( required to be above 45 mph 90% of time as per FHWA ) Eastbound has 56% of trips and 70% of revenue Heavy usage days: Tue, Wed, Thu 70% of trips start or end in reversible road Speeds and Usage

24. I-394 MnPASS Toll Users 13,200 active transponders 10,400 active accounts –As of October 31, 2009 30% of transponders used on a typical day –Average user makes two tolled trips per week Usage Higher Among –Full-time workers –Homeowners –Ages 35-55 –Incomes over $50,000 –Women

25. I-35W MnPASS Toll Users As of October 31, 2009 (opened September 30, 2009): 3,700 active transponders 3,300 active accounts $19,610 in tolled revenue 24,754 tolled trips (including the PDSL)

26. Revenues Exceed Operating Costs Estimated FY09 All Revenues + Fees: $1.5M Estimated FY09 Operations costs: $1.1M Costs and Revenue (I-394): 2005-062006-072007-082008-092009-10 Revenues+Fees $.647M$1.286M$1.345M$1.428M$1.471M Operations costs $.790M $0.960M$0.971M$1.077M$1.266M Enforcement Costs $165K

27. I-394 Key Milestones May 05: MnPASS lanes open June 05: Change to peak period operations in non-barrier section Nov 05: New auxiliary lane opens Jan 06: Pricing algorithm adjustment May 06: 1-year anniversary Sept 06: 10,000 transponders leased Feb 07: surpassed $10,000 in tolls for one day and had highest weekly revenue (over $110,000) May 2007 2-year anniversary June 2007: surpassed 11,000 transponders leased May, 2008 3-year anniversary September, 2008: surpassed 12,000 transponders leased May, 2009 4-year anniversary September 30, 2009 Expanded to I-35W October, 2009: surpassed 13,000 transponders and 10,000 active accounts

28. International Award Winning Project TEAM FL

29. I-394 MnPASS Meeting Its Goals 1.Reduces congestion and increases safety Non-barrier separated access is safe and reduces infrastructure requirements 2.Dynamic pricing and technology works Free flow speeds maintained Lower violation rates 3.Revenues + Fees exceed operating costs in Years 2, 3, and 4. 4.Studying I-394 MnPASS Phase 2 5.Expansion of MnPASS system to I-35W 2009

30. Questions and More Information Visit www.mnpass.org Julie Johnson, P.E. 651-234-7024 Julie.johnson@state.mn.us