VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Lanes
Sub-Category: Express Toll Lanes

Project - MINNESOTA: Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes

The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, encompassing Minneapolis and St. Paul, will be converting narrow bus-only shoulder lanes along the northbound portion of Interstate 35W between 46^th Street and downtown Minneapolis to wider priced dynamic shoulder lanes (PDSLs), and will be moving these lanes from the right-most to the left-most portion of the roadway to minimize conflict with entering vehicles. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles will operate at no charge in the PDSLs with access allowed during peak times to single-occupant vehicles whose drivers are willing to pay the toll, with prices set to ensure free-flow travel. PDSLs will enable bus speeds to increase to 50 mph from the current bus-only shoulder lane speeds of 35 mph or less. In the longer term, the goal is to convert as many miles as possible of Minnesota's existing 260-mile bus-only shoulder lane network to PDSLs.

The plan is for the PDSLs to link up with new, dynamically-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate I-35W, created by converting the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes which extend from approximately I-494 to the Burnsville Parkway, and also to extend these HOT lanes through the Crosstown Commons between I-494 and 46^th Street. The end result will then be a new 15-mile, dynamically-priced managed-lane corridor, speeding bus and HOV trips and also providing motorists a new option to experience a fast and reliable trip.

Implementation Funds Awarded

2007

Anticipated Completion Date

September 2009

July - September 2009 Update

The PDSL opened to travelers on September 28, 2009. It operates northbound on I-35W from 46^th Street to downtown Minneapolis from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The lanes are open to the same user groups as the HOT lanes. The PDSL reverts to a shoulder at other times and is not open to traffic.

For More Information Contact

Nick Thompson
UPA Project Manager
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Phone: (651) 234-7728
E-mail: Nick.Thompson@dot.state.mn.us

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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 Program > Projects > Involving Tolls > Priced Lanes VPP Projects Involving Tolls Category: Priced Lanes Sub-Category: Express Toll Lanes Project - MINNESOTA: Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, encompassing Minneapolis and St. Paul, will be converting narrow bus-only shoulder lanes along the northbound portion of Interstate 35W between 46^th Street and downtown Minneapolis to wider priced dynamic shoulder lanes (PDSLs), and will be moving these lanes from the right-most to the left-most portion of the roadway to minimize conflict with entering vehicles. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles will operate at no charge in the PDSLs with access allowed during peak times to single-occupant vehicles whose drivers are willing to pay the toll, with prices set to ensure free-flow travel. PDSLs will enable bus speeds to increase to 50 mph from the current bus-only shoulder lane speeds of 35 mph or less. In the longer term, the goal is to convert as many miles as possible of Minnesota's existing 260-mile bus-only shoulder lane network to PDSLs. The plan is for the PDSLs to link up with new, dynamically-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate I-35W, created by converting the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes which extend from approximately I-494 to the Burnsville Parkway, and also to extend these HOT lanes through the Crosstown Commons between I-494 and 46^th Street. The end result will then be a new 15-mile, dynamically-priced managed-lane corridor, speeding bus and HOV trips and also providing motorists a new option to experience a fast and reliable trip. Implementation Funds Awarded 2007 Anticipated Completion Date September 2009 July - September 2009 Update The PDSL opened to travelers on September 28, 2009. It operates northbound on I-35W from 46^th Street to downtown Minneapolis from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The lanes are open to the same user groups as the HOT lanes. The PDSL reverts to a shoulder at other times and is not open to traffic. For More Information Contact Nick Thompson UPA Project Manager Minnesota Department of Transportation Phone: (651) 234-7728 E-mail: Nick.Thompson@dot.state.mn.us Back to Express Toll Lanes Projects
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