Phase II: Operational and Safety-Based Analyses of Varied Toll Lane Configurations

The Puerto Rico Dynamic Toll Lane (DTL) is a 6.44 mi (10.4 km) reversible facility within a stretch of freeway PR-22 that operates a congestion pricing system; the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. This managed lane system is shared by private vehicles and the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system and is located at the median of PR-22, between the freeway lanes. However, the DTL has conflict/decision points at the entrance, as well as in the diverging lanes before the bridge piers segment, during the bridge segment and after the bridge separation, and in the exits of the DTL, for both eastbound and westbound directions. This has generated safety concerns for administrators and road users as well. This research project presents the study of the PR-22 DTL using the UPRM driving simulator, which is located in the Transportation Laboratory of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM). The main goal of this research was to evaluate the DTL facility’s safety and driver behavior on this system. This research study provides the first-ever freeway safety evaluation of a managed lane system that combines reversible lane operations with a congestion pricing system in a highway facility that is shared by private vehicles and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. The statistical analysis indicated that the optimum scenario for the average speed in PR-22 DTL is a posted speed limit of 55 mph with 11 ft lane width. However, further research is needed to provide feasible countermeasures that improve road safety and efficient operations of the reversible DTL in both the short and long term.

• Record URL:
  http://safersim.nads-sc.uiowa.edu/final_reports/UPR-1-Y2_Report.pdf
• 
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/31891
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  University of Puerto Rico, Mayaguez

  Department of Civil Engineering and Surveying
  Mayaguez, Puerto Rico  United States 

  Safety Research Using Simulation University Transportation Center (SaferSim)

  University of Iowa
  Iowa City, IA  United States  52242

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Diaz, Didier M Valdés
  • Ríos, Benjamín Colucci
  • González, Johnathan Ruiz
  • Cruz, Bryan Ruiz
  • Rosario, Ricardo García
  • Torres, Enid Colón
• Publication Date: 2016-8

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Appendices; Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 97p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Behavior; Bus rapid transit; Congestion pricing; Diverging traffic; Drivers; Driving simulators; Highway bridges; Highway safety; Managed lanes; Reversible traffic lanes; Speed limits; Statistical analysis; Variable tolls
• Geographic Terms: Puerto Rico
• Subject Areas: Design; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01630124
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Mar 27 2017 9:30AM