Value Pricing Pilot Program Awards $6 million in Grants that Encourage Innovative Ways to Tackle Congestion

FHWA Press Release

Highway Grants to Help States Reduce Traffic Congestion (Release Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009)

Project Descriptions

Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority

SR 237 Express Connectors

The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority was awarded $3,200.000 to implement the SR 237 Express Connectors project. This project will implement roadway pricing to relieve an existing freeway bottleneck at a gateway into Silicon Valley by variably pricing a carpool ramp that connects carpool lanes on two freeways. The project is the first part of a roadway pricing program to implement congestion pricing throughout the Silicon Valley. Excess capacity on the carpool direct connectors will be made available to single occupant vehicles (SOV) for a fee.

Minnesota Department of Transportation

Pricing Innovative Lane Additions on Trunk Highway 77

The Minnesota Department of Transportation was awarded $540,000 to conduct a feasibility study of Pricing Innovative Lane Additions on Trunk Highway 77. The study will evaluate the potential for developing enhanced capacity in a highly congested seven-mile stretch of the existing corridor through the development of lane additions and/or the use of fixed/moveable barriers with shoulder lanes and/or contra-flow lanes. The selected scenario will be compatible with the long-term plans for development of Cedar Avenue bus rapid transit (BRT). It complements transit enhancements funded under the Urban Partnership Agreement.

Priced Managed Lane on I-94

The Minnesota Department of Transportation was awarded $400,000 to conduct a pre-implementation study for a Priced Managed Lane on I-94. The project will explore potential design and operation changes to the I-94 facility in order to identify the opportunities to develop priced managed lanes. The study proposes to evaluate the costs and benefits of managed lanes along I-94, including the further development of a priced Dynamic Shoulder lane, similar to the one presently being developed along the I-35W Corridor under the Urban Partnership Agreement with the MN DOT. The study is a special priority in the region as they attempt to evaluate what design features should be introduced or retained based on the temporary improvements made after the collapse of the I-35W Bridge.

Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council

GPS-based Truck Pricing System

The Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council was awarded $717,000 to conduct a pre-implementation study of a GPS-based Truck Pricing System. While this pre-implementation project will target truck pricing in the area of the I-90/I-290 interchange east of Buffalo, it is statewide in nature with a strong emphasis on truck movements in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region. According to the application, the pilot area is the worst freight bottleneck in the country, causing about 1.7 million hours of annual truck delay (costing $55 million per year). Trucks account for 24% of vehicles traveling through this interchange. The project will work with trucking companies and technology partners with who there are pre-existing relationships to model the effects of truck pricing on traffic. The project will rely on global positioning system units that are already in trucks to collect data. The product of this effort will be a proposed implementation project, including all technical specifications and recommended specific prices for different times of travel.

Washington State Department of Transportation

Express Lanes System Concept

The Washington State Department of Transportation was awarded $1,280,000 to conduct a Washington Express Lanes System Concept study. The project will study the design and implementation of a regional network of evolving current HOV and express lanes into a dynamically priced express lanes network along various corridors in the Puget Sound region. Tasks include evaluating a combination of pricing and access controls needed to achieve facilities that are reliable and fast, but also efficiently utilized. One of the primary issues this study seeks to resolve is how to address, through congestion pricing, the low performance of HOV lanes. Development of a system plan and policy will strengthen the DOT’s goal of implementing a regionally priced network of express lanes.

Contact for Additional Information

Angela F. Jacobs
VPP Program Manager
(202) 366-0076
Angela.Jacobs@dot.gov

Search Tolling and Pricing: Home About Tolling and Pricing Programs Value Pricing Pilot Program Express Lanes Demonstration Program HOV Facilities Interstate System Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Pilot Program Interstate System Construction Toll Pilot Program Title 23 United States Code Section 129 Toll Agreements Team Resources Expression of Interest Regulations/Policy FAQs	Home > VPP Publications and Other Resources Value Pricing Pilot Program Awards $6 million in Grants that Encourage Innovative Ways to Tackle Congestion FHWA Press Release Highway Grants to Help States Reduce Traffic Congestion (Release Date: Thursday, May 14, 2009) Project Descriptions Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority SR 237 Express Connectors The Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority was awarded $3,200.000 to implement the SR 237 Express Connectors project. This project will implement roadway pricing to relieve an existing freeway bottleneck at a gateway into Silicon Valley by variably pricing a carpool ramp that connects carpool lanes on two freeways. The project is the first part of a roadway pricing program to implement congestion pricing throughout the Silicon Valley. Excess capacity on the carpool direct connectors will be made available to single occupant vehicles (SOV) for a fee. Minnesota Department of Transportation Pricing Innovative Lane Additions on Trunk Highway 77 The Minnesota Department of Transportation was awarded $540,000 to conduct a feasibility study of Pricing Innovative Lane Additions on Trunk Highway 77. The study will evaluate the potential for developing enhanced capacity in a highly congested seven-mile stretch of the existing corridor through the development of lane additions and/or the use of fixed/moveable barriers with shoulder lanes and/or contra-flow lanes. The selected scenario will be compatible with the long-term plans for development of Cedar Avenue bus rapid transit (BRT). It complements transit enhancements funded under the Urban Partnership Agreement. Priced Managed Lane on I-94 The Minnesota Department of Transportation was awarded $400,000 to conduct a pre-implementation study for a Priced Managed Lane on I-94. The project will explore potential design and operation changes to the I-94 facility in order to identify the opportunities to develop priced managed lanes. The study proposes to evaluate the costs and benefits of managed lanes along I-94, including the further development of a priced Dynamic Shoulder lane, similar to the one presently being developed along the I-35W Corridor under the Urban Partnership Agreement with the MN DOT. The study is a special priority in the region as they attempt to evaluate what design features should be introduced or retained based on the temporary improvements made after the collapse of the I-35W Bridge. Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council GPS-based Truck Pricing System The Greater Buffalo Niagara Regional Transportation Council was awarded $717,000 to conduct a pre-implementation study of a GPS-based Truck Pricing System. While this pre-implementation project will target truck pricing in the area of the I-90/I-290 interchange east of Buffalo, it is statewide in nature with a strong emphasis on truck movements in the Buffalo/Niagara Falls region. According to the application, the pilot area is the worst freight bottleneck in the country, causing about 1.7 million hours of annual truck delay (costing $55 million per year). Trucks account for 24% of vehicles traveling through this interchange. The project will work with trucking companies and technology partners with who there are pre-existing relationships to model the effects of truck pricing on traffic. The project will rely on global positioning system units that are already in trucks to collect data. The product of this effort will be a proposed implementation project, including all technical specifications and recommended specific prices for different times of travel. Washington State Department of Transportation Express Lanes System Concept The Washington State Department of Transportation was awarded $1,280,000 to conduct a Washington Express Lanes System Concept study. The project will study the design and implementation of a regional network of evolving current HOV and express lanes into a dynamically priced express lanes network along various corridors in the Puget Sound region. Tasks include evaluating a combination of pricing and access controls needed to achieve facilities that are reliable and fast, but also efficiently utilized. One of the primary issues this study seeks to resolve is how to address, through congestion pricing, the low performance of HOV lanes. Development of a system plan and policy will strengthen the DOT’s goal of implementing a regionally priced network of express lanes. Contact for Additional Information Angela F. Jacobs VPP Program Manager (202) 366-0076 Angela.Jacobs@dot.gov
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