Criteria for Adapting HOV Lanes to HOT Lanes

Project Description

High-occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes offer drivers the option of traveling on a high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane for a toll when they would normally not meet the lane¿s occupancy requirements. Thus, there is a growing perception that HOT lanes offer substantial revenue opportunities and a solution to underused HOV lanes. The complexities and costs associated with adapting HOV lanes to HOT lanes necessitate detailed evaluation of these factors prior to dedicating financial resources to the conversion effort.

Researchers developed software, called High-Occupancy/Toll STrategic Analysis Rating Tool (HOT START), that enables public agencies to evaluate the issues associated with converting HOVs to HOTs. This software allows agencies to assess the relative significance of tradeoffs among facility, performance, and institutional objectives and considerations in reaching the most appropriate recommendations. HOT START prioritizes factors relative to one another. Then, through a series of questions, the analyst scores each factor. Since HOT START is flexible enough to be tailored to local needs, agencies can then focus detailed analyses (such as a benefit-cost calculation) on those facilities most deserving of the additional analytical effort. As more research becomes available related to any of the key factors considered in HOT START, the factors (scoring, interactions, etc.) can be updated in future versions of the software.

Project Publications

Evaluating the Adaptation of HOV Lanes to HOT Lanes: Summary of Development and Application of HOT START Software Tool 0-4898-S

Guidebook for HOV to HOT Lane Adaptation: HOT START Software User's Guide 0-4898-P1

Evaluating Criteria for Adapting HOV Lanes to HOT Lanes: Development and Application of HOT START Software Tool 0-4898-1

Texas Transportation Researcher Articles

HOT Challenges on Houston's HOV Lanes - Volume 40, Number 2

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