Best Practices for Access Between Toll Lanes and Free Lanes

Project Description

This research project developed guidance for intermediate access to and from buffer-separated toll lanes located within general-purpose lanes. In cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), TTI researchers gathered literature, reviewed guidelines from other states, and chose five sites to study. Each site was either a high-occupancy vehicle lane or a high-occupancy toll lane with specific characteristics.

Data recorded during the project show that approximately 9 percent of the vehicles were not in compliance with the solid white pavement markings, but compliance improved when there was a longer access opening. Between 40 and 80 percent of the passing vehicles involved a vehicle leaving the managed lane to pass a slower-moving managed-lane vehicle. As managed-lane volume increased, the proportion of passing maneuvers decreased. Findings from one field site demonstrated that when presented with the opportunity to enter a managed lane located very close to an entrance ramp, drivers will attempt to cross multiple lanes to do so. More than 25 percent of these drivers were not in compliance with pavement markings.

The guidance material gives recommendations for best practices regarding managed-lane access. The project report includes full layout and dimensions for pavement markings.

Project Publications

Intermediate Access to Buffer-Separated Managed Lanes 0-5547-1

Best Practices for Access Between Toll Lanes and Free Lanes 0-5547-S

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