Using Innovation to Manage Transportation

1. Using Innovation to Manage Transportation Pat Bursaw, Minnesota DOT International Partnership Meeting Washington D.C. January 26, 2012

2. Overview • Minnesota / Twin Cities Metro Area • Innovations in Planning • Innovations in Traffic Management and Safety • MnPASS • Active Traffic Management • Lower cost solutions • Toward Zero Deaths • Summary

3. Twin Cities

4. Background As the region grows, increased travel demand on our aging infrastructure will continue to create additional transportation challenges Preservation- pavement and bridges Safety Congestion

5. Funding constraints • Increased need for pavement and bridge funding • Adding capacity to fully eliminate congestion would cost more than $40 billion over next 20 years • If used alone, state gas tax would need more than $2 per gallon increase for mobility

6. State Road Construction Program

7. Innovations in Planning • Investment Strategies for Mobility • Managed Lanes (MnPASS) • Active Management (ATM) System-wide • Lower Cost/High-Benefit Improvements • Strategic Capacity Expansion

8. Regional Transportation Management Center • Backbone for Managed Lanes system and ATM • Shared Operations Center • Mn/DOT Traffic Operations • Mn/DOT Maintenance Dispatch • State Patrol Dispatch • 400 miles of freeway management system

9. MnPASSSystem

10. Congestion Pricing in Minnesota • Congestion pricing brand name • Opened 11 mile High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lane on I-394 in 2005 • Opened 16 mile HOT lane in two phases in 2009-10 on I-35W as part of the Minnesota UPA project • Future I35E segment planned 2016

11. How does MnPASS work? • MnPASS operates only during peak rush hours • Peaks are defined as 6 to 10 AM and 2 to 7 PM M-F • Off peak and weekend lanes are free and open to all • Buses, carpools(2+) and motorcycles use for free during peak rush hours

12. How does MnPASS work? cont. • Solo drivers can choose to use for a fee • Fees range from .25¢ to $8.00 • Fees average between $1.25 and $1.50 • Lane use is enforced by State Patrol • Free flow speeds (50-55mph) are maintained through dynamic pricing

13. MnPASS Dynamic Pricing • Price based on congestion in MnPASS lane- real time data from pavement loop detectors • Number of vehicles in lane • Speed of the vehicles • Rate of change of traffic conditions • Dynamic pricing provides reliability • Pricing is set to produce reliability, not to maximize revenue

14. MnPASS I-394 Lane Design

15. I 35W- Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane (PDSL): Segment 3: 3 miles Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane North of 42nd St on NB 35W Maintains existing 4 lanes with an added PDSL Lane Effectively extends the MnPASS lane to downtown Minneapolis using existing road space

16. Innovative Use of Technology and Infrastructure Managed Lanes And Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane (PDSL)

17. I-35W MnPASS: Active Traffic Management

18. I-35W: The 21ST Century Highway Integrated & Innovative I-35W MnPASS System Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane Smart Lanes Bus Rapid Transit and Stations Integrated Park and Rides Low cost/high benefit capacity Results in Sustainable Congestion-Free Choices for Travelers

19. Low Cost/High Benefit Example I-94 at McKnight Road Congestion and crash problems in 4-lane segment between two 6-lane segments Converted to 6-lane freeway section within existing R/W for under $10M 4/1 Benefit/cost based on congestion savings alone

20. Toward Zero Deaths • Minnesota’s primary traffic safety initiative • Partnership between the Departments of Transportation, Public Safety and Health; local traffic safety partners; and the University of Minnesota, led by the University’s Center for Transportation Studies

21. Toward Zero Deaths

22. Summary • Innovation in planning, management of transportation through MnPASS, active traffic management • Challenges- changes in attitude • How can we learn from others’ experience?

23. Questions? Pat Bursaw, Minnesota DOT Pat.bursaw@state.mn.us