VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Lanes
Sub-Category: High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes

Project - CALIFORNIA: HOT Lanes on State Route 1 in Santa Cruz County

A five-mile section of State Route 1 is proposed for widening. The facility is currently a four-lane divided freeway. The segment operates under severe congestion during weekday peak hours and extended periods on summer weekends. Within the study corridor limits there are seven interchanges. Five HOT lane alternatives were studied in detail, including: (1) one lane in each direction with barrier separation, no intermediate access; (2) one lane in each direction, with buffer separation, no intermediate access; (3) one lane in each direction with striped separation, 1 or 2 intermediate access points; (4) one lane in each direction with striped separation, continuous access; and (5) one reversible lane with barrier separation, no intermediate access. The results of the study indicated that HOT lanes in the study corridor would be subject to a number of design and operation constraints, due to the short study corridor, multiple interchanges on the adjacent main lanes, and anticipated high levels of HOV traffic. In June 2002, the Regional Transportation Commission voted not to include a HOT lane alternative in further consideration, however it did select a carpool lane alternative with a footprint that would allow conversion to a HOT lane at a future date, and should demand warrant it.

Study Completed

The Final Report is available on the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission's web site (http://www.sccrtc.org/highway.html). There are no additional activities expected on this project.

For More Information Contact

Karena Pushnik
Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission
Phone: (831) 460-3210
E-mail: karena.pushnik@co.santa-cruz.ca.us

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