Impacts to Transit from Variably Priced Toll Lanes

Abstract

This paper describes the impacts on transit performance from three separate conversions of high-occupancy vehicle lanes into variably priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in Miami, Florida; Minneapolis, Minnesota; and Atlanta, Georgia. The data showed that the conversions had no negative impact on bus performance. In all three cities, the buses experienced travel time savings after the conversion: 17 min in Miami, 4.5 min in Minneapolis, and 5 min in Atlanta. Similarly, the HOT conversions did not negatively affect bus ridership. Ridership increased over the baseline by 57% in Miami and 13% in Minneapolis. In Atlanta, ridership increased by 11%, and this increase began before the conversion. Bus riders’ overall perception of the HOT lanes has been positive. In surveys, the bus riders from Miami and Minneapolis gave high ratings for travel times and reliability in the HOT lane corridors. Riders in Atlanta rated the bus service as very good but were not as positive about the tolls. Riders disagreed that the HOT conversion had improved their travel or been good for the Atlanta region. These negative responses may be attributable in part to widespread disgruntlement with the HOT concept that existed even before implementation.