Survey of HOT lane toll transponder holders found deployment of HOT lanes did not change carpooling habits of 66 percent of respondents; 65 percent of respondents who drove alone continued to do so.

The Los Angeles Congestion Reduction Demonstration projects evaluated tolling, technology, transit, and travel demand management strategies.

Date Posted
09/29/2017
Identifier
2017-B01169
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Los Angeles Congestion Reduction Demonstration ExpressLanes Program: National Evaluation Report

Summary Information

The Los Angeles-Long Beach-Santa Ana metro area is home to 13 million people and has the second highest population density in the United States. The region has the most extensive freeway system in the United States, in addition to a comprehensive public transit system. The area is one of the most congested areas in the United States.



The Los Angeles (LA) Congestion Reduction Demonstration (CRD) projects included:



Tolling: Converting HOV lanes and restriping created dynamically-priced HOT lanes; the 11-mile ExpressLanes on I-110 opened on November 10, 2012 and the 14-mile ExpressLanes on I-10 opened on February 23, 2013. Tolls range from $0.25 to $1.40 per hour, depending on congestion, paid with an electronic FasTrak transponder.



Parking Management: LA Express Park is an integrated parking management system that relies on state-of-the-art parking sensors, parking meters, and parking guidance technologies, as well as advanced analytical capabilities.



Transit: Increased frequency of bus rapid transit (BRT), additional transit signal priority (TSP) deployment, and capital improvements.



Travel Demand Management: Formation of new vanpools.

Findings

In August 2014, Metro conducted a survey of FasTrak customers regarding their satisfaction with the program. The survey included four questions to identify changes and influencing factors in travel mode resulting from deployment of the new ExpressLanes. Critical findings include:

  • Sixty-six (66) percent of respondents did not change their rate of carpooling once tolling was implemented. Twenty-two (22) percent of those surveyed increased their rate, including 10 percent who increased their rate by over 75 percent. Twelve (12) percent decreased their rate, including 4 percent decreasing by over 75 percent.
  • About 65 percent of respondents who drove alone prior to deployment of the ExpressLanes continued to make the same number of monthly one-way solo trips after they opened. About 22 percent of respondents reduced their drive-alone trip rates, while 13 percent increased.
  • Thirty-eight (38) percent of respondents who indicated they were carpooling more stated the main reason as the desire for the travel-time savings provided by the ExpressLanes, without having to pay the toll.
Results Type
Deployment Locations