THE COMMUTER LANE: A NEW WAY TO MAKE THE FREEWAY OPERATE BETTER

In an attempt to improve traffic flows on urban freeways, the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has recently implemented a demonstration project on a Southern California freeway to test the traffic operational features of a special commuter lane. The lane is being provided by allowing high-occupancy vehicles to drive on the median shoulder during peak commuter hours when the freeway is congested. In developing the project, Caltrans took into consideration several points relative to the operation of high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, the need for added capacity, and the conversion of shoulders into traffic lanes, which are discussed. Several factors are being reviewed in evaluating the operation of the project: accident experience, violation rates, operations associated with weaving and merging movements, travel times, congestion relief, and public acceptance. Results are presented and discussed.

• Record URL:
  • http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1986/1081/1081-004.pdf
• Summary URL:
  • https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=THE+COMMUTER+LANE%3A+A+NEW+WAY+TO+MAKE+THE+FREEWAY+OPERATE+BETTER&author=D.+Roper&publication_year=1986
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/0309041015
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Freeway Operations. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Roper, David H
• Publication Date: 1986

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Features: Figures; Maps;
• Pagination: pp 26-30
• Monograph Title: Urban traffic management
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 1081
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Acceptance; Commuters; Freeways; High occupancy vehicle lanes; High occupancy vehicles; Highway capacity; Merging traffic; Road shoulders; Traffic congestion; Traffic crashes; Traffic flow; Traffic lanes; Traffic violations; Travel time; Urban areas; Weaving traffic
• Uncontrolled Terms: Acceptability
• Old TRIS Terms: Reserved lanes; Urban freeways
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Passenger Transportation; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Security and Emergencies; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00474391
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309041015
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Oct 31 1987 12:00AM