Managed Lanes' Modular Evolution

CHARGING & TOLLING Reproduced by kind permission of Managed lanes’ modular evolution

HDR consultants, Brian Swindell and Bernie Arseneau, consider managed lanes’ untapped potential.

t is no surprise that corridor planning continues to chal- lenge agencies and owners I as demand continues to surpass roadway capac- ity. Planners are being asked to design roadways that will last for the typical 30-to 50-year design life, and the public expects that today’s infrastructure will be capable of addressing conditions that will arise in the future. Planners and designers are working diligently to capture the origin and destina- tions of key traffic movements and develop designs tailored to the land use and traffic movement along a corridor or region. However, this is being done at a time when it is extremely difficult to develop long-term transportation strategies due to hard-to- predict urban growth, shifts in land uses and technological advancements. Increasingly, managed lanes are being employed to address congested corridors as agencies and owners look for new strategies to maximise their transportation investments. However, once designed and built, managed lanes and traditional road- Modular lanes are based on managed ways offer little flexibility to adjust without lanes but provide additional flexibility to ABOVE: Lane width can vary with Modular significant infrastructure re-investment. adapt to the inevitable, but as yet not fully Lane Assignment. Going forward, adaptability will be essential defined, changes that the transportation sys- in realising a full return on the investment tem will encounter over time. Modular lanes of a newly-designed roadway well into do not focus solely on a hardwired solution travelling public. And, while managed the future. This is where the innovative to a specific problem. They are ready to be lanes are a natural starting point because concept and operation of managed lanes adapted to new needs – be they autonomous of their instrumentation, the modular lane can provide options for future roadway and connected vehicles (AV/CV), changes in concept could be extended to include the planning and design. travel patterns or new land uses. application to general-purpose lanes as the Managed lanes are good at handling transportation system continues to evolve. projected congestion, providing for Designing for the unknown A primary feature of modular lanes reliable trips in the corridor and potentially While predicting future conditions is is that they should maximise the use of recognising some revenue to offset project difficult, there is an opportunity to apply current facilities while making sure planned or operational costs. However, currently the knowledge and expertise gained from facilities account for capacity to address they are designed to solve a specific issue advanced design concepts, predictive future needs. To realise the full capability of and are unlikely to provide the flexibility modelling, current trends and technology modular lanes they need to work hand-in- to adjust to the changing transportation to road design. This will not only enhance hand with active traffic management, ITS system over time. That said, managed lanes transportation systems and improve techniques and the new advancements that are the most instrumented lanes in the operations, it can ensure facilities won’t are developing every day. Another charac- network and the concept has yet to be fully be obsolete from day one and can accom- teristic of the concept is that it can adjust explored to address the evolving needs and modate future technology. the way lanes are utilised based on the conditions as transportation continues to The forward-thinking modular lane con- real-time need in the corridor. Depending transform. cept provides possibilities to accommodate on the corridor, this adjustment can be one To that end, HDR is introducing the AV/CV, enhanced transit, truck platooning that is modified frequently or sporadically Modular Lanes concept. and other innovative ideas to serve the over time as needs and travel patterns shift.

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Long-term changes could be implemented consumption and emissions. This enhanced using existing technologies while daily transit configuration gives the rider the conversions could utilise concepts such as rapid transit benefits of light rail combined in-pavement, dynamic lighted lane lines. with the ‘last mile’ benefit of a bus network This approach, along with new capable of delivering them closer to their technology and innovations, could be used ultimate destination without the need of a in conjunction with one another or as a fixed guideway. separate solution for particular applications. The purpose of this adaptable, flexible Long-term value roadway concept is to create designs that By definition, the modular lane concept is take advantage of the anticipated advance- still evolving and will make use of the inno- ments in transportation technology such as vation and technology that is transforming AV/CV and ITS applications. the transportation industry. This paradigm shift in how roadways are planned and Practical examples designed will enable agencies to be better Implementing modular lane principles prepared for future changes, realise better provides numerous possibilities in both returns on their investments and make technological and design considerations. the most of the existing transportation For example, a modular lane could easily are subsequently adjusted to provide a infrastructure. be adjusted to accommodate directionality designated AV/CV lane using in-pavement Knowing the impact that mobility and adjust the number or designation of dynamic LED technology. As traffic pat- has on economic growth, a cost-effective lanes. Other modifications that could be terns change, the forward-thinking modular and expanded approach to improve the considered include: design would allow the road to be recon- service, safety and sustainability of roadway • Adjusting the number and width figured as a three-lane facility. This could networks is needed. That approach must of lanes to accommodate new and include two 2.4m (8ft) wide designated embrace innovative concepts coupled with emerging vehicle types by using AV/CV lanes plus a slightly wider lane to technologically-advanced system design traditional lane re-striping or futuristic accommodate truck and/or bus platooning and operational solutions that offer both applications such as in-pavement, with a shoulder that could be used as a short- and long-term value. The modular dynamic, LED technologies. drone pathway. Because these ideas were lane concept has great potential to meet • Accommodating designated lanes introduced early in the design life, all of operational needs and prepare agencies for that adjust over time. Today, that this added capacity and flexibility could the challenges ahead. ITS might include reversible configura- occur with no additional reconstruction or www.hdrinc.com tions, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) widening. Even further into the future, the lanes and other approaches. In the lanes may be reassigned again to serve new future it could be platooning trucks technological applications and innovations. and buses, AV/CV and shared ride Adaptable lane assignment could be concepts. used to separate automated vehicles from • Allowing for future in-pavement the general-purpose lanes. Over time, as digital striping, buffer/separation the fleet transitions and the proportion of technology that does not require connected and autonomous vehicles grows, a physical barrier and active traffic additional lanes could be allocated to AV/ management/speed harmonisation CV use. Another option would be to make ABOUT THE AUTHORS: technology that hasn’t even been use of a dedicated transit lane and AV/ About the authors: Brian Swindell leads the conceived yet. CV technology to provide platooned bus Managed Lane Practice section of HDR’s A more specific example might include lanes. In this scenario, buses utilise fixed Transportation Business Group. Bernie Arseneau a modular lane facility originally designed as and limited headways that improve safety is director of Traffic Management Systems, also two 3.6m (12ft) wide managed lanes which and reduce travel times while lowering fuel within HDR’s Transportation Business Group. Managed Lanes

The term ‘managed lane’ 2018 World Cup, Indonesia through time of day, vehicle Results from managed covers a broad range of spending US$1bn develop- type, occupancy and/or con- lanes projects can be mixed applications including HOT ing its toll road network, gestion-level restrictions. and vary from project to (high-occupancy toll) lanes, and 195 nations supporting project. transit-priority lanes, truck an agreement to reduce Key benefits As congestion continues lanes and express/toll lanes. transportation-related car- of managed lanes to increase, along with They were first introduced bon emissions, the interest • Predictable travel times for changing land uses, shift- in America in the 1960s in managed lanes is likely to peak hour commuters and ing travel patterns and and 1970s, largely serving grow. transit ridership stimulus rapidly evolving technology, transit purposes, and today Like a highway within • Congestion relief in gen- transportation planners they are an increasingly a highway, managed lanes eral purpose lanes and/or have to look for the next big popular solution to manage make use of existing or arterials in the network evolutionary shift in corridor congestion. With a new planned infrastructure to • Opportunity to introduce planning. New ideas need Moscow-St. Petersburg toll designate separate lanes tolls to offset project costs, to build in flexibility for the highway being built for the that are actively managed transit/freight advantage future.

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