1. Developing a Regional Express Lane Network Hercules City Council Meeting April 28, 2009 Doug Kimsey MTC Planning Director

2. “Top 10” Common Questions: 1.What are Express Lanes? 2.Why a Regional Express Lane Network? 3.What legal authority exists to implement Express Lanes? 4.What will it cost and how much revenue will be generated? 5.How will toll revenues be spent and who decides? 6.Why not take a lane where HOV doesn’t exist? 7.What will be the impact on carpooling and buses currently operating in HOV lanes? 8.Are Express Lanes equitable? 9.What are some of the benefits of Express Lanes? 10.Where do we go from here?

3. What are Express Lanes? High-Occupancy/ Toll Lanes; Express Lanes HOV lanes with a twist MorningEvening 5:00 – 6:00$0.50Noon – 3:00$0.50 6:00 – 6:45$1.753:00 – 3:30$1.50 6:45 – 7:15$2.753:30 – 4:30$2.00 7:15 – 8:15$3.254:30 – 6:00$3.25 8:15 – 8:45$2.756:00 – 7:00$1.50 8:45 – 10:00$1.757:00 – 3:00 am$0.50 I-25 Express Lanes Toll Schedule Carpools, buses free Single drivers can choose to pay (congestion insurance) Electronic tolls Variable tolls to manage demand

4. Why a Regional Express Lane Network? Proven corridor/system management tool Makes best use of capacity Encourages more carpooling and express bus Sea change in transportation funding Federal and state accounts going broke National and international trend toward user fees Regionally controlled revenue – traditional funding freed up Introduces road pricing concept Completes the regional HOV system – 30 years in the making – over 20 years faster than traditional public funding Consolidates current/planned express lanes under one organization

5. Proven Corridor Management Tool Improved Travel Speeds (Minneapolis) 5% Increased Carpooling (San Diego) 58% Doubled Vehicle Throughput (Orange County) 100% Fewer Delays Reported (Minneapolis) 20% Reduced crashes (Minneapolis) 12%

6. European/Asian Model: Cordon/Area Pricing Stockholm Singapore London

7. HOT Lanes Across the Country Orange County (1995) San Diego (1998) Houston (1998) Minneapolis (2005) Denver (2006) Seattle (2008) San Diego extension (2008) Miami (2008) Houston expansion (2009) Los Angeles (2010) Bay Area I-680, I-580 (2010) Bay Area Rte 85/US 101 (2012/2013) Riverside (2015)

8. Bay Area Network Limited and purposeful freeway widening 800 miles total 500 miles conversion (63%) 400 existing 100 fully funded 300 miles new lanes (37%) 60% are “gap closures” 5% increase in freeway mileage Why not take a lane? Lane configurations inconsistent Concept will be explored where feasible (SM 101) Limited footprint 8

9. Phased Approach Phase 1 Existing projects in development Phase 2 Easier conversion projects Extremely constrained areas developed last I-80 inner East Bay 680/24 interchange 9 I-580 I-680 South US 101, SR 85 & 237

10. What legal authority exists to implement Express Lanes? Alameda and Santa Clara Counties currently have authority to develop and operate initial HOT lanes AB 744 Torrico seeks to give BATA authority to develop and operate the Regional Express Lane Network A regional steering committee comprised of CMAs, Caltrans, CHP and BATA would advise BATA board Corridor-based regional network BATA would serve as financier

11. What legal authority exists to implement Express Lanes? (cont.) Corridor-based regional network Corridor Working Groups will develop Corridor Improvement Plans (CIP) to recommend: −occupancy and tolling policies, −express lane phasing, −use of corridor net revenues. BATA as financier Develop investment grade cost and revenue forecasts for bonding purposes Develop regional network phasing plan to guide network implementation

12. RTP network revenues were based on planning level financial estimates Costs assume Rapid Delivery model Gross revenue $13.7 B Capital cost$3.7 B Financing cost$1.9 B O&M cost$2.0 B Net Revenue$6.1 B What will it cost and how much revenue will be generated? 2009 through 2033, escalated

13. How will toll revenues be spent, and who decides? 1.Debt service and financing costs for phased network development (BATA) 2.Operations and maintenance of the toll network (BATA) 3.Corridor investments - 95% of net revenues to the corridor where generated - (CWGs) Transit Corridor projects that reduce vehicle emissions and provide cost-effective public transit options

14. Limited Access Models Transition Lanes: Bay Area (I-680 Sunol) Not likely feasible in some areas Weave Lanes: Minneapolis HOT (I-394, I-35) Seattle HOT (SR 167) LA HOV and HOT (I-210, I-10, I-110) Atlanta HOT (I-85) Two-Lanes: Alameda (I-580), Santa Clara Counties (SR 85, US 101) considering; not included in Transportation 2035 - May have cost, feasibility and environmental considerations Continuous Access: future feasibility TBD

15. Impact on Buses & Carpooling? State and Federal law: HOT lanes must remain free flowing; tolls set accordingly HOT network closes gaps to better serve buses and carpools, which are still free Experience shows HOT lanes do not discourage carpools Provides new revenue source for transit that can help support transit service such as express bus service Good Track Record for Carpool Growth San Diego I-15: 13% annual carpool growth; higher than other corridors (2007 – 2003) Orange County SR 91: 40% growth in 3+ carpools after opening Denver I-25: growth in carpools higher than tolled vehicles (2007)

16. Are Express Lanes Equitable? High income travelers use HOT more & pay more Lower income travelers use when travel time savings needed Carpooling and bus remain as lower cost options Net revenue can fund transit improvements Seattle: Chevrolets and Fords more common than luxury makes by factor of 1,000 Have you ever used the MnPass Lane? HOT Lanes Used by All Income Levels (I-394 Corridor Minneapolis) Source: NuSTATS (8/06)

17. Desired Network Reduces Emissions Compared to HOV in 2030 PM 10 CO 2 NOx ROG

18. Where do we go from here? Coalition building on AB 744 Continue design discussions Develop phasing and implementation plan Coordination with ongoing corridor management efforts (ICM and FPI) Ongoing education and outreach

19. For More Info: This Presentation: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/meetings/presentations/index.htm General Express Lane info: http://www.mtc.ca.gov/planning/hov/