AN EVALUATION OF HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE LANES IN TEXAS, 1993. INTERIM REPORT

This report evaluates the operation of freeway high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in Texas through calendar year 1993. As of the end of 1993, HOV lanes were in operation on the five following Houston freeways: 1) Katy Freeway (I-10W); 2) North Freeway (I-45N); 3) Northwest Freeway (U.S. 290); 4) Gulf Freeway (I-45S); and 5) Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59S). The only HOV facility in operation in Dallas as of the end of 1993 was on the East R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-30E). This research report provides an analysis of data related to the: 1) operation of the HOV lanes; 2) operation of the freeway mainlanes; 3) combined HOV lane and freeway data; and 4) data relating to transit usage and operations. Both a before and after trend line analysis (where applicable) and a comparison to control freeways are used as a means of assessing the impacts of the HOV facilities. As of December 1993, 93.5 km (58.1 mi) of barrier-separated HOV facilities were in operation in Houston, while 8.4 km (5.2 mi) were in operation in Dallas. Approximately 78,000 daily person trips are served on the Houston HOV lane system. 64% of total person trips on the Houston HOV lanes are being served by carpools and vanpools, with the remaining 36% being served by buses. The East R.L. Thornton HOV lane in Dallas serves approximately 14,000 daily person trips. 65% of these trips are being served by carpools and vanpools, with the remaining 35% being served by buses.