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National Road Pricing Conference

Case Studies
Salt Lake City, Utah — I-15 Express Lanes

"I-15 Express Lanes" – I-15, Salt Lake City, UT, HOV to HOT Conversion Project

Logo. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

Project Description

The I-15 Express Lanes in Salt Lake City, Utah, are HOT lanes that allow solo drivers to use the lanes for a fee. Implementation of this fee began September 2006 with a decal system. In early 2010, installation of an electronic payment system is scheduled, with the system expected to go live in fall 2010. A 4.1-mile extension of the corridor, called EXPRESSLink, is due to be completed at the same time.

Pricing Parameters

  • Toll free for:
    • 2+ carpools
    • Buses
    • Emergency vehicles
    • Motorcycles
    • Select clean-fuel vehicles
  • Toll Rate - $50 per month for SOVs
  • SOVs must show Express Lanes decal

Unique Features

  • Flat monthly fee paid for access by SOVs, provided extra capacity is available.

Project Website

http://www.udot.utah.gov/expresslanes/

Photo. Overhead signs identifying an HOV/Toll only lane in Salt Lake City, Utah. Photo. View of a Salt Lake City roadway with vehicles using toll lane and general purpose lanes. The toll lane is less congested.
Map. Map identifying ingress and egress locations for the Express Lane along I-15 in Salt Lake City. Photo. Egress point of a toll lane in Salt Lake City.

Project Goals

The conversion of the I-15 Express Lanes to the Express Pass payment system in fall 2010 will eliminate the $50/month flat fee for SOVs and replace it with a four-zone dynamic pricing scenario. This will allow UDOT to better manage traffic on I-15, by ensuring that carpooling remains a viable alternative to the general-purpose lanes. Revenues will be used to operate and maintain the Express Lanes facility.

Project Length

38 miles

Number of HOT lanes

Two lanes, one in each direction

Midpoint Access

Multiple access locations (14) spread throughout the facility.

Lane Separation

Painted stripe

Capital Costs

$125 million for EXPRESSLink expansion

Project Contact

Catherine Cutler
ccutler@utah.gov
(801) 887-3449

Version 1 8/23/10
HOT0901.0410.20

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