INNOVATIONS AND CHALLENGES IN TOLLING MANAGED AND EXPRESS LANES Katherine Katie Nees, P.E. Deputy Director, Strategic Projects Division Texas Department of Transportation ITS California Northern Section June 26, 2013
Texas Transportation System Texas currently has three major managed lane toll regions: Austin /Fort Worth Each region has multiple entities involved with tolling and/or managed lanes. Each region typically includes multiple toll and/or managed lanes projects and policies. 2
Complex Texas Landscape.. Operators within Texas Texas Department of Transportation - Strategic Projects Division (SPD) Texas Department of Transportation - Toll Operations Division (TOD) Regional Mobility Authorities LP375 Managed Lanes El Paso SH550 Brownsville Loop 49 Tyler CCRMA CRRMA NETRMA TxDOT CSC CTTP: LP1/SH45N/SH130 1-4 Austin SH99 (Grand Parkway) SH255 (Camino Columbia) Laredo SH45SE Austin Regional Toll Authorities 183A Austin 290 (Manor Expressway) Austin CTRMA County Toll Authorities Westpark Tollway Katy Managed Lanes Sam Tollway Hardy Toll Road HCTRA CSC IOP HUB Private Dvlpr/Optr Host SH130 5&6 Austin LBJ (IH 635) Managed Lanes NTE 1 & 2W Managed Lanes Private Developers/Operators Transit Authorities Fort Bend Parkway Westpark Tollway METRO HOT Lanes Metropolitan Planning Organizations FBCTRA METRO NTTA CSC President G. Bush Turnpike Addison Airport Toll Tunnel Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge DFW International Airport (TollTag only) North Tollway Sam Rayburn Tollway Mtn. Creek Lake Bridge Love Field (TollTag only) 3
Roles and Responsibilities Roles and Responsibilities in Development of Managed Lane Facilities Regional Agencies (Typically MPO) Regional Perspective, Planning and Policy Regional Managed Lane Policies Address: -Occupants, Toll Rates, Registration and Level of Service Requirements Applies to all Managed Lane Operators: -Regional Toll Authorities, Regional Mobility Authorities, Private Operators and Transit Agencies TxDOT Project Readiness, EIS, Funding, Operations and Maintenance Toll Authorities Backoffice and Interoperability Developer Design-Build, Financing, Operations and Maintenance 4
Program Concerns -Safety, Design and Consistency Policies Regional and Corridor Specific Safety Concerns Traffic weaving at declaration points Limited enforcement area Declaration lanes created decision points at entrance/exit ramps Design Constraints ROW limited and not often available for declaration lanes on all corridors Conversion of existing one-lane HOV lanes with declaration lane would be difficult Regional Consistency Regardless of Operator Needed a methodology that could be applicable on all corridors Customers Technology Enforcement LBJ (I-635) Express Design 5
/Fort Worth Metroplex Managed Lanes Program Anticipated Operational Dates DFW Connector: 2013/2014 LBJ Express Segment 3: 2013 I-820 / SH183 NTE Segments 1 & 2W: 2014 I-30 West: 2015 US 75: 2015 LBJ Segment 1 & 2: 2015 I-30 East: 2015 I-35W / NTE 3A & 3B: 2017 LBJ to US 360: 2017 I-35E / US 67: 2020 I-35W / NTE 3C: TBD I-820 / NTE Segment 4: TBD SH183, Loop 12 & SH114: TBD 6
NCTCOG/RTC s Toll Policies The /Fort Worth Region has developed policies for priced roads since 2006 20 Policies for Managed Lanes Projects that must integrate with the operator s policies and business rules 7
This image cannot currently be displayed. NCTCOG/RTC s Regional Managed Lane Policies Regional Pricing 1. A fixed-fee schedule will be applied during the first six months of operation; dynamic pricing will be applied thereafter. 2. The toll rate will be set up to $0.75 per mile during the fixed-schedule phase. The established rate will be evaluated and adjusted, if warranted, with Regional Transportation Council approval. 3. Toll rates will be updated at least monthly during the fixed-schedule phase. 4. Market-based tolls will be applied during the dynamic-pricing phase. During dynamic operation, a toll rate cap will be established. The cap will be considered soft during times of deteriorating performance when a controlled rate increase above the cap will be temporarily allowed. 5. The toll rate will be established to maintain a minimum average corridor speed of 50 miles per hour. Occupancy/Charges 1. Transit vehicles will not be charged a toll. 2. Single and two-occupant vehicles will pay the full rate. 3. Trucks will be allowed and will pay a higher rate. 8
NCTCOG/RTC s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont d) 8. High-occupancy vehicles of two or more occupants and vanpools will pay the full rate in the off-peak period. 9. High-occupancy vehicles with three or more occupants will receive a 50 percent discount during the peak period (6 hours per weekday: 6:30am 9:00am and 3:00pm 6:30pm). This discount will phase out after the air quality attainment maintenance period. 10.Eligible HOVs must pre-register as part of the HOV pre-declaration process. RTC-sponsored public vanpools are permitted to add peak-period tolls as eligible expenses. Therefore, the Comprehensive Development Agreement firm will be responsible for the high-occupancy vehicle discount and the Regional Transportation Council will be responsible for the vanpool discount. 11.Managed Lane occupancy requirements of 3+ may begin on or before June 1, 2016, resulting in the initial implementation of the existing HOV 2+ policy. HOV 3+ will be implemented when necessary due to the operational constraints. 9
NCTCOG/RTC s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont d) 11. During the dynamic-pricing phase, travelers will receive rebates if the average speed drops below 35 mph. Rebates will not apply if speed reduction is out of the control of the operator. This policy is suspended at this time. This policy could be phased in on or before June 1, 2016 after implementation of dynamic pricing. Quarterly reports regarding operator responsibility and customer communication needs will be presented to the RTC previous to implementation. 12. Motorcycles qualify as high-occupancy vehicles. 13. No discounts will be given for green vehicles. Adminsitration/Operations 11. Every managed lane corridor will operate under the same regional policy. 12. Adoption of this policy will have no impact on the Regional Transportation Council Revenue Policy previously adopted. 13. The Regional Transportation Council requests that local governments and transportation authorities assign representatives to the Comprehensive Development Agreement procurement process. 10
NCTCOG/RTC s Regional Managed Lane Policies (cont d) 18. In CDA-leased corridors, the duration of the Comprehensive Development Agreement should maximize potential revenue. 19. Tolls will remain on the managed lanes after the Comprehensive Development Agreement duration. 20. Initially, managed lanes will be enforced manually with technology support. Over time, more advanced technology verification equipment will be phased in. DFW Connector Managed Lanes and General Purpose Lanes 11
Operational Aspects Facilities Operational & Under Construction DFW Connector (open) LBJ Tolled Managed Lanes (open) IH35E North SH 183 (SH161- IH35E) Toll Collection Method All Electronic and Pay by Mail All Electronic and Pay by Mail All Electronic and Pay by Mail All Electronic and Pay by Mail SOV Toll Currently Under Test -Dynamic pricing after six months (some debate continues) Currently Variable Price Mode- Dynamic pricing after six months Dynamic pricing after six months Dynamic pricing after six months HOV 2+ Toll (includes Motorcycles) Dynamic pricing after six months (some debate continues) 50% discount peak period Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Truck Eligibility Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate Speed Guarantee 50 mph average corridor speed 50 mph average corridor speed 50 mph average corridor speed 50 mph average corridor speed Rebates On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph Enforcement Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification 12
Operational Aspects Planned Facilities IH820 NTE IH30 Tolled Managed IH35W (Eagle Parkway- IH30_ NTE Toll Collection Method All Electronic and Pay by Mail All Electronic and Pay by Mail All Electronic and Pay by Mail SOV Toll Dynamic pricing after six months Dynamic pricing after six months Dynamic pricing after six months HOV 2+ Toll (includes Motorcycles) Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Dynamic pricing after six months, 50% discount peak period Truck Eligibility Yes, with higher toll rate Yes, with higher toll rate (some debate continues) Yes, with higher toll rate Speed Guarantee 50 mph average corridor speed 50 mph average corridor speed 50 mph average corridor speed Rebates On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph On or before June 1, 2016 Average corridor speed below 35 mph Enforcement Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification 13
Operational Aspects Proposed Facilities Toll Collection Method IH35E (IH30 IH20) All Electronic and Pay by Mail LBJ East Express/HOV Lanes All Electronic and Pay by Mail US 75 All Electronic and Pay by Mail IH30 East R.L. Thornton All Electronic and Pay by Mail SOV Toll Toll Fixed Schedule Toll Fixed Schedule Toll Fixed Schedule Toll Fixed Schedule HOV 2+ Toll (includes Motorcycles) Truck Eligibility Speed Guarantee Free Free Free Free No not designed to accommodate 50 mph average corridor speed No not designed to accommodate 50 mph average corridor speed No not designed to accommodate 50 mph average corridor speed Rebates No No No No No not designed to accommodate 50 mph average corridor speed Enforcement Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification Manual with technology support, phase in technology verification 14
Coordination with Regional Toll Authorities/Private Developers Coordination with other Entities: Requires Seamless Access for the Regional Customers Technical Interoperability Regional HOV and Valid Tag File Sharing Back Office Coordination Enforcement and Habitual Violators 15
Interoperability HUB for Transponder Transactions Loop 49 Tyler NETRMA LP375 Managed Lanes El Paso CRRMA SH550 Brownsville CCRMA CTTP: LP1/SH45N/SH130 1-4 Austin SH99 (Grand Parkway) TxDOT CSC SH255 (Camino Columbia) Laredo SH45SE Austin 183A Austin 290 (Manor Expressway) Austin CTRMA Westpark Tollway Katy Managed Lanes Sam Tollway Hardy Toll Road HCTRA CSC IOP HUB Private Dvlpr/Optr Host SH130 5&6 Austin LBJ (IH 635) Managed Lanes NTE 1 & 2W Managed Lanes Fort Bend Parkway Westpark Tollway METRO HOT Lanes FBCTRA METRO NTTA CSC President G. Bush Turnpike Addison Airport Toll Tunnel Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge DFW International Airport (TollTag only) North Tollway Sam Rayburn Tollway Mtn. Creek Lake Bridge Love Field (TollTag only) 16
Regional Coordination Requires Requires: Complex Toll Services Agreements between TxDOT and Developers NTTA and Developers TxDOT and NTTA Statewide Interoperability Protocols Detailed Interface Control Documents for Coordination and Data Transfer Interface Control Documents ICD-01: ICD-02: ICD-03: ICD-05: IOP: IOP: IOP: Interface Control Documents File Transfer Tag Validation List Transactions File License Plate Validation Business Rules Hub Data Security Guidelines Hub Project Glossary The Devil is in the Details! 17
Migration from In-Lane Solution to Pre-Registration Need Solution to: Address the regional policy of HOV preregistration, Address Issues with HOV declaration lanes Support an HOV Regionally Interoperable Customer Base Provide related Customer Service Lead to the Decision: Mobile-phone based solution and software for Pre-Registration A Regional HOV Hub for processing and transferring Coded Tag Files 18
Technology/Customer Pre-Registration Concept Developing a Pilot Program under the LBJ and NTE CDAs Mobil-phone Based Solution would: Allow customers to set up an account a variety of ways (Web, Mobile App, CSC) Use of the mobile app requires a one-time enrollment which can be done by Web, SmartPhone, or CSC HOV Pre-registration status can be: Updated via Web Access, Smart Phone App, Mobile SMS, CSC Change 30 minutes prior to departure by phone App or web and can be set for a time period Data feeds to the HUB HOV Host and Software 19
Development of Regional HOV Hub Users Website(s) Smartphone App Automated Telephone System (Declr. only) CSRs @ Public Info. Office (Reg. only) SMS Texting (Declr. only) Toll Service Provider for Payment Processing HOV Registration and Declaration System Images and Transaction Data HOV List D/FW HOV Lanes Vehicle Transactions Trx type Toll rate Agency Host Transaction Packaging 20
Mobile App Declaration Benefits Provides user convenience Minimizes weaving at declaration zones Makes enforcement safer and easier Addresses HOV users Concerns Making declarations while driving Accessibility TxDOT s access to and ownership of data and system Impact on Regional Partners ICDs and technology details 21
Design Specifications Signage Requirements Guide Signage Occupancy Signage Ingress/Egress Toll Rate Signage Dynamic Pricing Static Pricing Payment Types Pay by Mail Transponder Based Enforcement 22
Types of Signage 23
Sample Signage Layout.. 24
Lessons Learned Texas has grown into a state of multiple owners who must work together for the betterment of motorists. Understand the objectives, responsibilities and abilities of the project contributors. Think long-term as to operations and project compatibilityboth regionally and statewide Multiple dynamic algorithms within a corridor must be coordinated and somewhat in sync Various payment methods add complexity to collection, interoperability, customer messaging and signage Collaboration and coordination are essential. Interlocal Agreements and Developer Agreements and other coordination take time and are complex And MOST of all- if possible keep it SIMPLE! 25
Happy Happy Happy 26
Thank You Katharine Katie Nees, P.E. Texas Department of Transportation Strategic Projects Division Katie.Nees@TxDOT.gov 214-801-8822 27