 |
 |
Techniques For Mitigating Urban Sprawl |
|
|
| |
| Alternative Mode Support Strategies - Facility and Systems Improvements |
| High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Facilities |
|
A comprehensive network of HOV facilities can encourage not only the use of public transit, but also the formation of carpools and vanpools. By reducing travel times for transit or rideshare vehicles, HOV facilities allow them to compete more effectively with private vehicles. There are three methods for providing an HOV lane - adding a lane, utilizing the existing shoulder, and converting an existing general purpose lane to HOV only. HOV lanes are estimated to reduce peak period trips on congested facilities by 2-10% (Ewing, 1993, pp. 343-366). HOV lanes can provide up to a 2% trip reduction and a 1.5% reduction in daily region-wide VMT (Apogee Research, Inc., 1994). Source/Reference: WSDOT, 2000, pp. 15-17.
|
|
The five HOV facilities (Quickride) currently operational in Houston are Katy (I-10W), North (I-45N), Gulf (I-45S), Northwest (US 290) and Southwest (US 59). Based on a before and after study, the average travel-time savings were noted to range from 2 to 22 minutes (as of 1996). Huge proportion of previously drive alone riders shifted to HOV lanes and the HOV lanes were a significant influence in commuters’ decision to change from car to bus transit/high occupancy modes. A third of QuickRide trips involved a change in time of travel from the shoulders into the peak period. There was an increase in peak hour speeds, and doubling of METRO bus speeds (26mph to 54 mph). Also, increase in average vehicle occupancy was noted. Overall, Houston METRO’s 1992 operating costs benefited by $4.8 million due to the HOV lanes.
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/docs/Houston
|
|
The Quickride system – “Recognized as the leading network of its kind in the world, METRO's High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) network continues to move commuters where they need to go quickly and efficiently. Built primarily for buses, the HOV also promotes ridesharing through vanpools and carpools, which reduces traffic congestion and provides cleaner, healthier air throughout the region.”
The ABCs of HOVs – “This report is the final report from more than a decade of research into the effectiveness of HOV lanes in Texas. Numerous people have made significant contributions over the course of this research. Mr. Alvin R. Luedecke, P.E., the TxDOT project director, has been most prominent in providing consistent and insightful guidance to the research team throughout. He has skillfully directed the research to assure that it meets both the immediate and long-term needs of TxDOT.”
Concerns – “A newly released Texas Transportation Institute study suggests that High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) or carpool lanes that are not separated from regular lanes with a physical barrier experience a 41-56 percent increase in injury accidents. Almost all new freeway lanes are set aside for HOV use only because federal environmental regulations strongly favor their use.”
|
|
http://www.quickride.org/hov_system.stm
|
|
|
|
|
|
Envision Central Texas  6800 Burleson Road, Building 310, Suite 165 Austin, TX 78744 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 17848 Austin, TX 78760-7848 |
|
