Georgia Truck Lane Needs Identification Study

1. Georgia Truck Lane Needs Identification Study Talking Freight Seminar March 19, 2008 Matthew Fowler, P.T.P Assistant State Planning Administrator

2. Freight Growth in Georgia • Freight flows in Georgia are forecast to increase 260% by the year 2035. • Trucks currently carry 86% of the freight moving through the state. • Truck Traffic is growing twice as fast as car traffic. 2.5 Billion Tons 260% Increase 945 Million Tons 2004 2035

3. Georgia Freight Movement, By Mode Share Year 2035 Year 2004 Water 3% Water 2% Air <1% Air <1% Rail 11% Rail 10% Truck 86% Truck 88% (Based on the weight, not value of the freight) Source: Transearch data

4. Overview of Truck Lane Study • Questions • Do truck-only lanes significantly reduce peak-period congestion, corridor wide? • If so, where should we build them? • How much would truck-only lanes cost? • Are there benefits to truck-only lanes? • Study assumptions • Follow existing freeway alignments • No tolls • Voluntary usage

5. Study Area • Statewide: • All Interstates plus select U.S. and State Routes Savannah Sub-Area Inset

6. Data Collection and Inputs • Total Traffic Volumes • Truck Traffic Volumes • Congestion Levels (existing and future year) • Freight “Origin & Destination” Surveys • Establishment Surveys • Freight Bottleneck Locations • Major Freight Generators

7. Traffic Volumes – 2004 & 2035

8. Truck Volumes- 2004 & 2035

9. “Origin-Destination” Survey • Weigh Stations • Truck Stops • Intermodal Facilities • Ports • Approximately 5,600 total surveys

10. Initial Evaluation Results (2035)as presented to GDOT Board in April 2007 • Average Daily Truck Traffic >30,000 • Congested Conditions – Level-of-Service “E” or “F” • Major ‘Through’ Travel Movements Major Truck Generators Freight Bottlenecks

11. Candidate Corridors Routes meeting the initial evaluation criteria (further studied): • I-75 North (I-285 to Chattanooga) • I-75 South (I-475 to I-285) • I-85 North (I-285 to Barrow/Gwinnett County Line) • I-85 South (Coweta/Meriwether County Line to I-285 South) • I-20 West (Georgia/Alabama Border to I-285) • I-20 East (I-285 to Newton/Morgan County Line) • I-285 (All) • I-675 Routes that did not meet the initial evaluation criteria: • I-16 • I-59 • I-24 • SR 400 • SR 166 • US 78

12. System-Level Alternatives Metro Atlanta

13. System-Level Alternatives (cont’d.) Metro Atlanta

14. System-Level Evaluation • Traffic Flow and Speeds • Traffic Volumes • Benefits and Costs

15. 2035 PM Peak Period Speeds Truck Only Lanes only increase peak period General Purpose Lane speeds by 10 mph, on avg

16. 2035 Daily Traffic Volumes Avg Total GP Lanes Volume – No Build Avg Total GP Lanes Volume -- Build Avg Total Truck Lanes Volume System 1 System 2 System 3 System 4

17. 2035 GP Lane Daily Traffic Volumes 5% 4% 6% 6% Trucks shifting to Truck Only Lanes frees up capacity in General Purpose Lanes; however, the capacity is “consumed” by new travelers attracted from parallel arterials (latent demand/diverted traffic), resulting in minimal reductions in General Purpose Lane congestion

18. Project Benefits Project Costs 30-Year User Benefits and Costs(in 2007 Dollars) Truck Only Lanes generate benefits (VMT and VHT reductions, secondary economic benefits); however, benefits primarily accrue to trucking community

19. System 3 • System 3 yields greatest benefits • Complete, comprehensive network • Cost: • $13.2 Billion (current year dollars) • $21.69 Billion (future year dollars) • $13.2 Billion represents approximately 14 years worth of eligible federal-aid highway funding available for Georgia (in current year dollars) Metro Atlanta (Estimated current year cost per lane-mile: $20 Million)

20. Study Findings • Traffic Flow and Speeds • Truck Only Lanes only increase ‘peak period’ General Purpose Lane speeds by approximately 10 mph • Any substantial improvements to speeds in General Purpose Lanes are “consumed” by motorists attracted from parallel arterials (latent demand/diverted traffic)

21. Study Findings • Traffic Volumes • Trucks are not the largest number of customers in a corridor • On a daily basis, trucks average 10%-15% of traffic volume on Metro Atlanta Interstates • During peak periods, trucks average approximately 6% of total traffic volume on Metro Atlanta Interstates • Atlanta mirrors national trends; in metropolitan regions, cars overwhelmingly dominate vehicle mix during peak travel periods • Truck Only Lanes result in minimal reductions in General Purpose Lane traffic volumes, due to latent demand/diverted traffic

22. Study Findings • Benefits and Costs • Overall, Benefits exceed Costs; however, the primary benefit is to the 6% of traffic (trucks) travelling in the peak periods • Other motorists, representing 94% of the vehicle mix, do not realize direct and significant benefits in General Purpose Lanes • Truck Only Lanes are cost prohibitive based on funding availability and study assumptions

23. Do not pursue stand-alone Truck Only Lanes Truck Only Lanes provide direct benefits for trucks, which comprise only 6% of peak period traffic Vehicles in General Purpose Lanes (94% of vehicle mix in peak periods) would not realize direct and significant benefits Truck Only Lanes do not significantly reduce peak period congestion in General Purpose Lanes Truck Only Lanes are not the only strategy to address truck traffic Study Conclusion

24. Next Steps • GDOT’s Metro Atlanta Managed Lane System Plan (MLSP) is underway • MLSP will explore all managed lane options (HOV/HOT/TOL/TOT/ETL or a combination thereof) in order to serve all of GDOT’s travelling customers • Findings from Truck Only Lane Study will feed into MLSP • Anticipate realizing increased benefits for all customers with MLSP • Presently working with our Metro Atlanta transportation planning partners

25. www.gatrucklanestudy.com