Analysis of Variables That Affect HOT Speeds on I-85 Express Lanes in Atlanta

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the relationship between High Occupancy Toll (HOT) speed, toll amount, and weaving behavior for vehicles in the I-85 corridor on the primary merge and weaving zones where three major input traffic streams converge. Data from by Peach Pass Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag reads from the HOT facility provide detailed information about vehicle movements within and between the HOT and GP lanes. Researchers are able to identify activity in weaving zones as well as entries and exits from the corridor based on these RFID data. The data are also time-stamped, allowing a vehicle’s speed to be calculated as it moves from segment to segment. Georgia Tech has developed diagrams that display the frequencies of these movements, speeds, or densities at each point along the length of the Express Lanes (See Appendix). At a higher level, these data provide throughput figures for the various segments of the Express Lanes. Animated graphics, also developed at Georgia Tech, show how the spatial distributions of speeds and volumes change over time. Graphics such as these provide insight into the sections of the corridor that are operating properly or are becoming congested. The research identifies merge and flow issues that clearly indicate that existing toll rates and caps are not allowing the lane to function as intended.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE25 Congestion Pricing.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Toth, Christopher
  • Guensler, Randall
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 15p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Express lanes; High occupancy toll lanes; Interstate highways; Radio frequency identification; Tolls; Traffic lanes; Traffic speed; Weaving traffic
• Geographic Terms: Atlanta (Georgia)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; I70: Traffic and Transport;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01506681
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-5587
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 7 2014 1:47PM