A User Survey of High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV)/ High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lane Extended Hours and Weekend Operational Evaluation

Houston METRO conducted a 90-day (July 1, 2015 to September 30, 2015 operational pilot test to determine if extended hours and weekend operations on the High Occupancy Toll / High Occupancy Vehicle HOT/HOV system provided a mobility benefit to the traveling public. A user survey was conducted with users and the general public. The operational test had two primary components: (1) Extended hours of operation on weekdays (additional time from 8 PM to 11 PM in the outbound direction); and (2) New operational hours on Saturday and Sunday, inbound-only, from 10AM to 8 PM. The two primary goals of the operational tests were: (1) Optimize HOT facility utilization as some corridors experience longer peak period congestion (identify when the lanes should close); and (2) Present the HOT Lane network to the public as a viable transportation option for travel to the central Houston area during weekends (Does weekend access provide mobility benefits). General Findings (not specific to pilot hours): Most use lanes to avoid traffic (some for safety); Average perceived time savings is 17 minutes; Support for better HOV enforcement. Pilot Extended Hours: Findings Users feel METRO should keep lanes open longer on weekdays; Users and non-users interested in longer HOV/HOT hours; Users were interested in earlier and later hours on weekends; and Willingness to pay tolls higher than $1 Pilot Weekend Findings: Users feel METRO should keep lanes open longer on weekends; Users were interested in earlier and later hours on weekends; and Willingness to pay tolls higher than $1.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AHB35 Standing Committee on Managed Lanes. Alternate title: User Survey of High-Occupancy-Vehicle-High-Occupancy-Toll Lane Extended Hours and Weekend Operational Evaluation
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • Benz, Robert J
  • Brooks, Jonathan
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 96th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2017-1-8 to 2017-1-12
• Date: 2017

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Figures; Maps;
• Pagination: 19p
• Monograph Title: TRB 96th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: High occupancy toll lanes; High occupancy vehicle lanes; Pilot studies; Surveys; Weekdays; Weekends
• Identifier Terms: Houston METRO
• Uncontrolled Terms: Hours of operation
• Geographic Terms: Houston (Texas)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01628887
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 17-06432
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 15 2017 9:09AM