Application of a Performance Management Framework for Priced Lanes.

摘要

The Texas Department of Transportation and its agency partners have implemented various forms of lane management and pricing over the past three decades, including high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, high-occupancy toll lanes, managed lanes, and toll roads. As more of these complex transportation facilities are planned and constructed throughout the state, agencies need to understand how these facilities may operate over time. Ideally, the long-term operations should be based on metrics that are agreed upon in advance. When agencies define what metrics can most effectively and efficiently measure the performance of a facility and outline what thresholds trigger a change in operation, policy makers and the public can anticipate and appreciate how a facility's operation may change over time. This understanding allows the facility operators to focus on the tasks of efficiently operating a smooth transportation network, rather than on how to get the necessary changes approved in a timely manner. Research Project 0-6396 developed a framework called the Traffic Thermostat, which can help make operating decisions for priced facilities and can guide changes in operational strategies for a facility over time. This implementation project demonstrates how the Traffic Thermostat can be implemented for a specific project, and allowed for adjustments to the framework and implementation process based on results. This pilot focused on the I-30 managed HOV lanes.