WASHINGTON: Express Lanes System Concept Study
The Washington State DOT (WSDOT) operates a 225 lane-mile HOV system, as well as two reversible general purpose express lane facilities (one of which will be replaced with light rail). Much of the HOV system has not met adopted speed and reliability standards for several years, impacting transit performance and costs. WSDOT has proposed to convert the HOV and express lane system into a network of tolled express lanes that would continue to serve transit and carpools at no cost, while allowing paying customers to enter the lanes for trips where timely arrival is particularly important. The price would be set dynamically based on traffic conditions in order to maintain high throughput and reliable speeds.
WSDOT believes that an express toll lane system should be implemented to provide a consistent experience for its users throughout the region. This project will identify and recommend solutions for system-wide policy and design issues to define the express toll lanes concept for the Puget Sound region, develop specific implementation concepts for I-5, and propose system-level program staging that could be applied to complete the evolution from HOV lanes to tolled express lanes.
Project Status
Study Completed
For More Information Contact
Rob Fellows
Tolling Division
Washington State DOT
Phone: (206) 464-1257
