INNOVATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN TOLLING MANAGED AND EXPRESS LANES
Katherine ‘Katie’ Nees, P.E. Deputy Director, Strategic Projects Division Texas Department of Transportation
ITS California Northern Section June 26, 2013 Texas – Transportation System
.Texas currently has three major managed lane toll regions: Austin Houston Dallas/Fort Worth – Each region has multiple entities involved with tolling and/or managed lanes. – Each region typically includes multiple toll and/or managed lanes projects and policies.
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Complex Texas Landscape……..
Operators within Texas
Texas Department of Transportation - Strategic Projects Division (SPD) Texas Department of Transportation - Loop 49 NETRMA Tyler
LP375 Managed Lanes CRRMA Toll Operations Division (TOD) El Paso CTTP: LP1/SH45N/SH130 1-4 Austin SH550 CCRMA Brownsville SH99 (Grand Parkway) Houston SH255 (Camino Columbia) Laredo Regional Mobility Authorities TxDOT CSC SH45SE Austin 183A Austin CTRMA 290 (Manor Expressway ) Austin Regional Toll Authorities
Westpark Tollway Houston SH130 5&6 Katy Managed Lanes Austin Houston Private Dvlpr/Optr LBJ (IH 635) Managed Lanes Dallas Sam Houston Tollway Host Houston County Toll Authorities NTE – 1 & 2W Managed Lanes HCTRA IOP HUB Dallas Hardy Toll Road CSC Houston
Private Developers/Operators
Fort Bend Parkway Houston Dallas North Tollway FBCTRA Dallas Westpark Tollway President G. Bush Turnpike Dallas Houston Sam Rayburn Tollway Dallas Addison Airport Toll Tunnel Transit Authorities Dallas Mtn. Creek Lake Bridge Dallas Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge METRO HOT Lanes METRO Houston NTTA Dallas CSC Dallas Love Field Dallas (TollTag only) DFW International Airport Metropolitan Planning Organizations Dallas (TollTag only)
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Roles and Responsibilities
Roles and Responsibilities in Development of Managed Lane Facilities
Regional Agencies (Typically MPO) – Regional Perspective, Planning and Policy Regional Managed Lane Policies Address: -Occupants, Toll Rates, Registration and Level of Service Requirements Applies to all Managed Lane Operators: -Regional Toll Authorities, Regional Mobility Authorities, Private Operators and Transit Agencies
TxDOT – Project Readiness, EIS, Funding, Operations and Maintenance Toll Authorities – Backoffice and Interoperability Developer – Design-Build, Financing, Operations and Maintenance
4 Program Concerns -Safety, Design and Consistency
Policies – Regional and Corridor Specific Safety Concerns • Traffic weaving at declaration points • Limited enforcement area • Declaration lanes created decision points at entrance/exit ramps Design Constraints • ROW limited and not often available for declaration lanes on all corridors • Conversion of existing one-lane HOV lanes with declaration lane would be difficult Regional Consistency Regardless of Operator • Needed a methodology that could be applicable on all corridors Customers Technology Enforcement LBJ (I-635) Express Design
5 Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex Managed Lanes Program Anticipated Operational Dates DFW Connector: 2013/2014 LBJ Express Segment 3: 2013 I-820 / SH183 NTE Segments 1 & 2W: 2014 I-30 West: 2015 US 75: 2015 LBJ Segment 1 & 2: 2015 I-30 East: 2015 I-35W / NTE 3A & 3B: 2017 LBJ to US 360: 2017 I-35E / US 67: 2020 I-35W / NTE 3C: TBD I-820 / NTE Segment 4: TBD SH183, Loop 12 & SH114: TBD
6 NCTCOG/RTC’s Toll Policies
The Dallas/Fort Worth Region has developed policies for priced roads since 2006
20 Policies for Managed Lanes Projects that must integrate with the operator’s policies and business rules
7 NCTCOG/RTC’s Regional Managed Lane Policies
Regional Pricing 1. A fixed-fee schedule will be applied during the first six months of operation; dynamic pricing will be applied thereafter. 2. The toll rate will be set up to $0.75 per mile during the fixed-schedule phase. The established rate will be evaluated and adjusted, if warranted, with Regional Transportation Council approval. 3. Toll rates will be updated at least monthly during the fixed-schedule phase.
4. Market-based tolls will be applied duringThis image cannot currently be displayed. the dynamic-pricing phase. During dynamic operation, a toll rate cap will be established. The cap will be considered “soft” during times of deteriorating performance when a controlled rate increase above the cap will be temporarily allowed. 5. The toll rate will be established to maintain a minimum average corridor speed of 50 miles per hour. Occupancy/Charges 1. Transit vehicles will not be charged a toll. 2. Single and two-occupant vehicles will pay the full rate. 3. Trucks will be allowed and will pay a higher rate.
8 NCTCOG/RTC’s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont’d)
8. High-occupancy vehicles of two or more occupants and vanpools will pay the full rate in the off-peak period. 9. High-occupancy vehicles with three or more occupants will receive a 50 percent discount during the peak period (6 hours per weekday: 6:30am – 9:00am and 3:00pm – 6:30pm). This discount will phase out after the air quality attainment maintenance period. 10.Eligible HOVs must pre-register as part of the HOV pre-declaration process. RTC-sponsored public vanpools are permitted to add peak-period tolls as eligible expenses. Therefore, the Comprehensive Development Agreement firm will be responsible for the high-occupancy vehicle discount and the Regional Transportation Council will be responsible for the vanpool discount. 11.Managed Lane occupancy requirements of 3+ may begin on or before June 1, 2016, resulting in the initial implementation of the existing HOV 2+ policy. HOV 3+ will be implemented when necessary due to the operational constraints.
9 NCTCOG/RTC’s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont’d)
11. During the dynamic-pricing phase, travelers will receive rebates if the average speed drops below 35 mph. Rebates will not apply if speed reduction is out of the control of the operator. This policy is suspended at this time. This policy could be phased in on or before June 1, 2016 after implementation of dynamic pricing. Quarterly reports regarding operator responsibility and customer communication needs will be presented to the RTC previous to implementation. 12. Motorcycles qualify as high-occupancy vehicles. 13. No discounts will be given for “green” vehicles. Adminsitration/Operations 11. Every managed lane corridor will operate under the same regional policy. 12. Adoption of this policy will have no impact on the Regional Transportation Council Revenue Policy previously adopted. 13. The Regional Transportation Council requests that local governments and transportation authorities assign representatives to the Comprehensive Development Agreement procurement process.
10 NCTCOG/RTC’s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont’d)
18. In CDA-leased corridors, the duration of the Comprehensive Development Agreement should maximize potential revenue. 19. Tolls will remain on the managed lanes after the Comprehensive Development Agreement duration. 20. Initially, managed lanes will be enforced manually with technology support. Over time, more advanced technology verification equipment will be phased in.
DFW Connector Managed Lanes and General Purpose Lanes
11 Operational Aspects – Facilities Operational & Under Construction
DFW Connector LBJ Tolled Managed IH35E North SH 183 (SH161- (open) Lanes (open) IH35E) Toll Collection Method All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay by Mail by Mail by Mail by Mail SOV Toll Currently Under Test Currently Variable Dynamic pricing after Dynamic pricing after -Dynamic pricing after Price Mode- Dynamic six months six months six months (some pricing after six debate continues) months HOV 2+ Toll (includes Dynamic pricing after Dynamic pricing after Dynamic pricing after Dynamic pricing after Motorcycles) six months (some six months , 50% six months, 50% six months, 50% debate continues) discount peak period discount peak period discount peak period 50% discount peak period Truck Eligibility Yes, with higher toll Yes, with higher toll Yes, with higher toll Yes, with higher toll rate rate rate rate Speed Guarantee 50 mph – average 50 mph – average 50 mph – average 50 mph – average corridor speed corridor speed corridor speed corridor speed Rebates On or before June 1, On or before June 1, On or before June 1, On or before June 1, 2016 – Average 2016 – Average 2016 – Average 2016 – Average corridor speed below corridor speed below corridor speed below corridor speed below 35 mph 35 mph 35 mph 35 mph Enforcement Manual with Manual with Manual with Manual with technology support, technology support, technology support, technology support, phase in technology phase in technology phase in technology phase in technology verification verification verification verification
12 Operational Aspects – Planned Facilities
IH820 NTE IH30 Tolled Managed IH35W (Eagle Parkway- IH30_ NTE
Toll Collection Method All Electronic and Pay by All Electronic and Pay by All Electronic and Pay by Mail Mail Mail SOV Toll Dynamic pricing after six Dynamic pricing after six Dynamic pricing after six months months months HOV 2+ Toll (includes Dynamic pricing after six Dynamic pricing after six Dynamic pricing after six Motorcycles) months, 50% discount peak months, 50% discount peak months, 50% discount peak period period period
Truck Eligibility Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate (some debate continues)
Speed Guarantee 50 mph – average corridor 50 mph – average corridor 50 mph – average corridor speed speed speed
Rebates On or before June 1, 2016 – On or before June 1, 2016 – On or before June 1, 2016 – Average corridor speed Average corridor speed Average corridor speed below 35 mph below 35 mph below 35 mph
Enforcement Manual with technology Manual with technology Manual with technology support, phase in support, phase in support, phase in technology verification technology verification technology verification
13 Operational Aspects – Proposed Facilities
IH35E (IH30 – IH20) LBJ East US 75 IH30 East R.L. Express/HOV Lanes Thornton Toll Collection Method All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay All Electronic and Pay by Mail by Mail by Mail by Mail SOV Toll Toll – Fixed Schedule Toll – Fixed Schedule Toll – Fixed Schedule Toll – Fixed Schedule
HOV 2+ Toll (includes Free Free Free Free Motorcycles) Truck Eligibility No – not designed to No – not designed to No – not designed to No – not designed to accommodate accommodate accommodate accommodate Speed Guarantee 50 mph – average 50 mph – average 50 mph – average 50 mph – average corridor speed corridor speed corridor speed corridor speed Rebates No No No No
Enforcement Manual with Manual with Manual with Manual with technology support, technology support, technology support, technology support, phase in technology phase in technology phase in technology phase in technology verification verification verification verification
14 Coordination with Regional Toll Authorities/Private Developers
Coordination with other Entities: . Requires Seamless Access for the Regional Customers . Technical Interoperability . Regional HOV and Valid Tag File Sharing . Back Office Coordination . Enforcement and Habitual Violators
15 Interoperability HUB for Transponder Transactions
Loop 49 NETRMA Tyler
LP375 Managed Lanes CRRMA El Paso CTTP: LP1/SH45N/SH130 1-4 Austin SH550 CCRMA Brownsville SH99 (Grand Parkway) Houston SH255 (Camino Columbia) Laredo TxDOT CSC SH45SE Austin 183A Austin CTRMA 290 (Manor Expressway ) Austin
Westpark Tollway Houston SH130 5&6 Katy Managed Lanes Austin Houston Private Dvlpr/Optr LBJ (IH 635) Managed Lanes Dallas Sam Houston Tollway Host Houston NTE – 1 & 2W Managed Lanes HCTRA IOP HUB Dallas Hardy Toll Road CSC Houston
Fort Bend Parkway Houston Dallas North Tollway FBCTRA Dallas Westpark Tollway President G. Bush Turnpike Dallas Houston Sam Rayburn Tollway Dallas Addison Airport Toll Tunnel Dallas Mtn. Creek Lake Bridge Dallas Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge METRO HOT Lanes METRO Houston NTTA Dallas CSC Dallas Love Field Dallas (TollTag only) DFW International Airport Dallas (TollTag only)
16 Regional Coordination Requires
Interface Control Interface Control Documents Requires: Documents
• Complex Toll Services ICD-01: File Transfer Agreements between ICD-02: Tag Validation List • TxDOT and
Developers ICD-03: Transactions File
License Plate • NTTA and ICD-05: Validation Developers IOP: Business Rules • TxDOT and NTTA Hub Data Security IOP: • Statewide Guidelines
Interoperability Protocols IOP: Hub Project Glossary
• Detailed Interface Control Documents for Coordination and Data The Devil is in the Details! Transfer
17 Migration from In-Lane Solution to Pre-Registration
Need Solution to: Address the regional policy of HOV pre- registration, Address Issues with HOV declaration lanes Support an HOV Regionally Interoperable Customer Base Provide related Customer Service
Lead to the Decision: Mobile-phone based solution and software for Pre-Registration A Regional HOV Hub for processing and transferring Coded Tag Files
18 Technology/Customer – Pre-Registration Concept
Developing a Pilot Program under the LBJ and NTE CDAs Mobil -phone Based Solution would: Allow customers to set up an account a variety of ways (Web, Mobile App, CSC) Use of the mobile app requires a one-time enrollment which can be done by Web, SmartPhone, or CSC HOV Pre-registration status can be: • Updated via Web Access, Smart Phone App, Mobile SMS, CSC • Change 30 minutes prior to departure by phone App or web and can be set for a time period Data feeds to the HUB HOV Host and Software
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Development of Regional HOV Hub
Users
Smartphone Automated CSRs @ SMS Texting App Telephone Public Info. (Declr. only) Website(s) System Office (Declr. only) (Reg. only) Toll Service Provider for Payment Processing
HOV Registration and Declaration System Images and Transaction Data
HOV List Vehicle Transactions Trx type Toll rate Agency Host – D/FW HOV Lanes Transaction Packaging
20 Mobile App Declaration
Benefits Concerns Provides user convenience Making declarations while Minimizes weaving at driving declaration zones Accessibility Makes enforcement safer and TxDOT’s access to and easier ownership of data and system Addresses HOV users Impact on Regional Partners ICDs and technology details
21 Design Specifications
Signage Requirements
– Guide Signage
– Occupancy Signage
– Ingress/Egress
– Toll Rate Signage
• Dynamic Pricing
• Static Pricing
– Payment Types
• Pay by Mail
• Transponder Based
– Enforcement
22 Types of Signage………
23 Sample Signage Layout…..
24 Lessons Learned . Texas has grown into a state of multiple owners who must work together for the betterment of motorists. Understand the objectives, responsibilities and abilities of the project contributors. Think long-term as to operations and project compatibility- both regionally and statewide Multiple dynamic algorithms within a corridor must be coordinated and somewhat in sync Various payment methods add complexity to collection, interoperability, customer messaging and signage Collaboration and coordination are essential. Interlocal Agreements and Developer Agreements and other coordination take time and are complex And MOST of all- if possible keep it SIMPLE!
25 Happy
Happy
Happy
26 Thank You
Katharine “Katie” Nees, P.E. Texas Department of Transportation Strategic Projects Division [email protected] 214-801-8822
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