Using Innovation to Manage TransportationPat Bursaw, Minnesota DOTInternational Partnership MeetingWashington D.C. January 26, 2012

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

Twin Cities

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

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

State Road Construction Program

Innovations in Planning

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

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

MnPASS System

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

• 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

How does MnPASS work?

• 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

How does MnPASS work? cont.

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

MnPASS I-394 Lane Design

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

Innovative Use of Technology and Infrastructure

Managed LanesAnd Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lane (PDSL)

I-35W MnPASS: Active Traffic Management

I-35W: The 21ST Century HighwayIntegrated & 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

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

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

TOWARD ZERO DEATHS

Summary• Innovation in planning, management of

transportation through MnPASS, active traffic management

• Challenges- changes in attitude• How can we learn from others’ experience?

Questions?

Pat Bursaw, Minnesota DOTPat.bursaw@state.mn.us