1. FHWA Policy and Guidance
Jessie Yung, P.E.
FHWA Office of Operations
June 13, 2007

2. HOT Lanes Prior SAFETEA-LU
Value Pricing Pilot Program
I-15 HOT Lanes, San Diego, CA
Katy – I-10/US 290, Houston, TX
I-394 MnPASS, Minneapolis, MN

3. SAFETEA-LU Section 1121 HOV Facilities
Codified at 23 U.S.C. 166
More options and flexibility to manage HOV facilities

4. 23 U.S.C. 166 Congress created three new HOV exceptions:
public transportation vehicles;
low emission and energy-efficient vehicles; and
high occupancy toll (HOT) vehicles.
HOT lanes may be established on both Interstate and non-Interstate facilities.
States have options to toll all vehicles, with some exceptions

5. 23 U.S.C. 166 (4) Requirements Certifications (Initial and Annual)
Establish programs addressing how operators of HOT vehicles can enroll and participate in the toll program;
Develop, manage, and maintain a system that will automatically collect the toll; and
Establish policies and procedures to manage the demand of the facility by varying the toll amount and enforcing violations.
Execute a toll agreement between the FHWA and State DOTs and operating agencies. (Use of revenue)

6. Performance Requirements
Maintain at a minimum average operating speed 90% of the time over a consecutive 180-day period during morning or evening weekday peak hour periods.
A minimum average operating speed is:
45 mph for an HOV facility with a speed limit of 50 mph or greater, and
not more than 10 mph below the speed limit for a facility with a speed limit of less than 50 mph.

7. Degraded HOT Facilities
States must limit or discontinue the use of the facility by HOT vehicles to bring the facility back to compliance.

8. HOT Lanes Projects Under 23 U.S.C. 166
I-25 Express Lanes, Denver, CO (2006)
I-15 Express Lanes, Salt Lake City, UT (2006)
SR 167 HOT Lanes, Seattle, WA (2008)

9. Resources
Current program guidance (2001) is available at the FHWA Freeway Management Program web site at
Guidance issued prior to SAFETEA-LU
Revised HOV Program Guidance – coming soon
FTA Final Policy

10. For more information: