Capital cost estimates to implement MnPASS dynamic pricing on freeway shoulder lanes ranged from $6 million to $23 million per mile.

Mn/DOT experience with managed lanes

Made Public Date
01/10/2012
Identifier
2012-SC00244
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Summary Information

In 2005, MnDOT completed a Phase I study that examined the conversion of high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on I-394 and I-35W in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. In 2010, a second study was conducted to examine the concept of implementing dynamic pricing on shoulder lanes to provide additional capacity with minimal impacts and changes to the overall roadway footprint. These new MnPASS lanes would run parallel to general purpose lanes and require all vehicles except transit to pay a toll. Price would increase with volume to maintain free-flow conditions.

The cost figures below were used to estimate the relative costs to implement new MnPASS lanes on a variety of corridor lengths and shoulder lane configurations. Overall, on a cost per mile basis, capital cost estimates ranged from $6.0 million to $23.0 million per mile (2010 dollars).


ADVANCED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT (ATM)

  • ATM and MnPASS equipment for six- to eight-lane freeway: $1.2 million to $1.6 million per mile (both directions). These costs includes tolling equipment, signs, sign structures, and communications infrastructure.
  • MnPASS Equipment Only: $1.0 million per mile (both directions). This cost includes tolling equipment for MnPASS operations only.

ROADWAY CONSTRUCTION

  • Widen to Inside: $3.4 million per mile (both directions)
  • Widen to Outside: $2.1 million per mile (both directions)
  • Resurface Existing Pavement: $2.4 million per mile (both directions)
  • Interchange Ramp Realignment: $1.4 million per location (one exit and one entrance in one direction)
  • Grading, Drainage, and Overhead Sign Relocation: $1.15 million per mile (both directions)
  • Median Barrier: $350,000 per mile (both directions)
  • Miscellaneous – Low-Range: None; High-Range: $1.0 million per mile (each direction).

STRUCTURES (Bridge Construction to accommodate specified lane/shoulder widths)

  • Low-range (widening): $200 per square foot
  • High-range (bridge replacement): $5 million per location.

OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Initial MnPASS operations on the I-394 corridor were estimated to cost $120,000 per year per mile. These costs included roadway operations and maintenance, and back office functions (processing payments, record keeping, etc.) Sharing the established administrative and back office functions, and expanding operations to cover additional corridors would cost approximately $50,000 per year per mile.

System Cost

Implement dynamic pricing on existing freeway shoulder lanes: $6 million to $23 million per mile. Operations and Maintenance - I-394 Corridor - $120,000 per year per mile. Operations and Maintenance - Additional Corridors - $50,000 per year per mile.