FAST Lanes Program

Transportation and General Government Policy Committee

Association of Metropolitan MunicipalitiesAugust 16, 2004

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Terminology

: System of express lanes funded by tolls

HOT Lanes: Converts existing HOV lanes to allow toll-paying SOVs

FAST Lanes: Adds new lanes to an existing highway; used by toll-paying vehicles

FAST Lanes Structure

New lanes built to add capacity to an existing highway. In certain cases, conversion of short segments of existing lanes may be considered to maintain system continuity.

Fees rise or fall as congestion increases or decreases on adjacent lanes.

Fees are collected using non-cash, electronic technology (no toll booths).

Benefits of FAST Lanes

Provide users with a new travel option

Leverages private sector innovation and equity to increase highway capacity

Manages congestion and traffic flow through pricing

Provides congestion relief for adjacent “free” lanes

MnPASS FAST Lanes Work Plan

Identify Funding Sources to be Leveraged

Public Outreach, Education & Involvement

MnPASS System Study

Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Community & Industry Feedback

Identify Potential Systems

Request for Partnership Proposals (RFPP)

Evaluate Proposals

Select Proposals

Negotiate Development Agreements

Approval by Transportation Commissioner

Local Veto Period

Notice to Proceed

Ground Breaking

Phase I: System Feasibility

Phase II: Solicitation for Partnership Proposals

Phase III: Development Agreement

Phase IV: Design and Construction

Phase V: MnPASS Operations

Municipal Consent & Environmental Approvals

Open for Public Use

I-394 MnPASS Implementation

Phase I: System Feasibility

MnPASS System Study Objectives:

– Identify a potential Twin City Metro Area MnPASS system

– Provide cost, operational, revenue and system implication information

– Identify impacts that MnPASS will have on existing transportation system and policy plans

Task

Month

Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb

1. Mobilization & Data Collection

2. Identify & Screen Candidate Systems

3. Develop Forecasting Tools & Baseline Forecasts

4. Evaluation of Traffic, Revenue, System

Effectiveness & Impacts (Round 1 & 2)

5. Design & cost analysis (Round 1 & 2)

6. Financial Analysis & Synthesis (Round 1 & 2)

7. Final Documentation

8. Support Outreach & Legislative Efforts

Tasks & Timeframe

*

Through June, 2005 *

Study Team

Steering Committee (James Hovland, Chair)

Met Council – Transportation Advisory Board:

Apple Valley Washington County Edina Excelsior

Golden Valley Mendota Heights

Minneapolis Anoka County

White Bear Lake

Humphrey Institute

Minnesota House of Representatives

(Ron Erhardt)

Minnesota Senate (Sharon Marko)

Mn/DOT

Technical Team (Paul Czech, Mike

Sobolewski – Co-Chairs)

FHWA

Met Council

Mn/DOT

Project Management

Paul Czech

Mike Sobolewski

Consultant Team

Cambridge Systematics

URS

Key Study Assumptions

• The new 2030 Met Council travel demand model will be used for this analysis

• Study horizons:

• Long Term (2030) to consider ultimate system

• Short Term (2010, with 10 year work program) to consider immediate implementation opportunities

• Two rounds of analysis are proposed – to allow for initialevaluation, and then fine tuning of concepts

Key Study Assumptions

• Scenarios will be evaluated for up to three tolling policies• Maximize revenue• Maximize traffic flow• Mid-level

• Corridors ranked according to development opportunity (e.g., high/medium/low)

• Transit,HOVs & hybrids:• HOVs & buses free access to existing HOV lanes (I-394, I-35W South)• All other MnPASS lanes will be new capacity, with all traffic paying tolls except for transit vehicles•Limited off-model analysis of the potential impacts of allowing HOVs and hybrids into the MnPASS system

Phase II: Soliciting Project Proposals

Corridors can be anywhere in the State – Interstate or State Trunk Highway systems– High Potential corridors identified in MnPASS System Study

Public cost participation considered for desirable projects that might otherwise not be feasible

– Eligible projects include those in the 10-year work plan, STIP and bond funded projects.

– Options should also recognize projects in Mn/DOT’s 20-year plan.

Willing to work with private partners to share revenue risks– Non-compete clauses will NOT be considered– Need to explore options to ensure predictable revenue sources

Phase III: Development Agreement

Development agreement will define build, operation and maintenance responsibilities

– Developer is responsible for construction

– Developer is responsible for operating, maintaining and administering toll collections system

– Mn/DOT provides ‘routine’ maintenance

Public Outreach

Local community involvement and support is key

Desire to engage communities early and often– MnPASS System Study– Regular and frequent contact with high potential corridor

communities

Local veto provision contained in toll road enabling statute

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Mike Sobolewski Metro District – Program Management Mike.Sobolewski@dot.state.mn.us

651/582-1375

http://www.mnpass.org

John Doan FAST Lanes Program Director

John.Doan@dot.state.mn.us 651/284-3605