Transcript
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Urban Partnership Agreement and Congestion Reduction Demonstration, or the UPA/CRD Program, is an initiative sponsored by the United States Department of Transportation. This video was exhibited at the ITS World Congress in Orlando, Florida, from October 17 to October 19, 2011.
This initiative began in 2007 with competitive awards to six locations.
The locations receiving awards were Atlanta, Los Angeles, Miami, Minnesota, San Francisco and Seattle.
A variety of pricing strategies were used by the six locations. The strategies include converting high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or HOV, to high-occupancy toll lanes, or HOT, full facility tolling, and demand-based parking pricing.
The strategy of HOV to HOT conversion provides many benefits for travelers, such as being able to use HOV lanes more efficiently, providing reliable travel times, and expanded travel choices.
One site using HOT lanes is the Miami 95Express. Phase 1 began operation in December, 2008 with two HOT lanes in each direction. Tolls are adjusted every 15 minutes with overhead signs displaying the requirements for HOV users and the toll rates for HOT users.
A second site using HOT lanes is the I-35 Express Lanes in Minnesota, which began operation in September of 2009.
A third site using HOT lanes is I-85 Express Lanes in Atlanta, which began operation in October of 2011. A Peach Pass toll sticker is placed on the windshield so it can be read by toll equipment. Overhead signage indicates the toll rate near the entrance points to the HOT lane.
A fourth site using HOT lanes is the Los Angeles Express Lanes, which will begin operation on I-110 in 2012. Operation will begin on I-10 in 2013.
Full facility pricing is another type of pricing strategy. It is being used on State Route 520 in Seattle, which opened in December of 2011. Full facility pricing will help alleviate the congestion on the State Route 520 bridge over Lake Washington.
Demand-based parking pricing is another type of pricing strategy. This pricing strategy is currently being used by SFpark in San Francisco, which began operation in August of 2011.
Drivers searching for on-street parking in the downtown area will now see parking rates adjusted for levels of congestion, thus making parking more available.
Demand-based parking pricing will also be used in ExpressPark in Los Angeles, opening in the spring of 2012.
ITS technologies help reduce congestion by enabling and supporting other congestion strategies, such as the active traffic management (ATM) lane signage in Seattle and Minnesota.
ITS technologies also include real-time parking information, through the smartphone parking application in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and on the web.
ITS technologies include dynamic message signs, showing park and ride lot availability in Minnesota and travel times in Minnesota, Seattle, and Atlanta.
ITS technologies also include real-time bus departure times in Minnesota. This bus is stopped next to the real-time departure signs, and a passenger is boarding the bus.
ITS technologies include video-equipped vehicles in Atlanta that detect registration violations.
ITS technologies include toll/payment systems.
ITS technologies also include parking pricing systems, smart parking meters, and parking occupancy sensors.
ITS technologies include a priced dynamic shoulder lane in Minnesota (PDSL).
Technology and telecommuting can complement other strategies. Some sites are promoting telecommuting to employers to relieve congestion. This strategy is being used in Minnesota and Seattle.
The status of the Six UPA/CRD Deployments is as follows:
In Miami, Phase 1A was operational in December 2008. Phase 1B was operational in January 2010 and Phase 2 will be operational in mid-2014.
In Minnesota, HOT Part 1 was operational in September 2009, and HOT Part 2 was operational in November 2010.
In San Francisco, SFpark pricing began in August of 2011.
In Atlanta, HOT was operational in October of 2011.
In Seattle, tolling operations began in December of 2011.
In Los Angeles, HOT operations on I-110 will begin in October of 2012. HOT operations on I-10 will begin in February of 2013.
Credits for material used in the video include the following:
Atlanta: Video and Photos Courtesy of State Road and Tollway Authority
Los Angeles: Video Courtesy of Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Miami: Photos courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation. Video Courtesy of AECOM.
Minnesota: Video Courtesy of Metro Transit. Photos Courtesy of Minnesota Department of Transportation.
San Francisco: Video and Photos Courtesy of San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Seattle: Videos and Photos Courtesy of Washington State Department of Transportation
