VIDEO ENFORCEMENT TESTING ON THE I-30 CONTRAFLOW HOV LANE IN DALLAS, TEXAS

Adequate enforcement of vehicle occupancy restrictions plays a key role in the success of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities. A high number of unauthorized HOV lane users (e.g., single-occupant vehicles, or SOVs) can create congested traffic conditions on an HOV lane, thereby decreasing travel time savings and reliability incentives for commuters to carpool or use public transit. SOVs in the HOV lane also frustrate other motorists. This motorist frustration is then aimed at public agencies that operate or enforce the HOV lane. The lack of public support due to poor or ineffective enforcement has closed several HOV projects in the United States. The Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) is conducting a study to identify and test advanced technology to improve the safety and cost-effectiveness of HOV lane enforcement. The most promising technology will be evaluated in an operational test on the East R.L. Thornton (I-30), or ERLT, HOV lane in Dallas, Texas. The results of the operational test will be useful for improving enforcement procedures on future HOV lanes in Dallas and on existing HOV lanes in other urban areas. Several agencies are involved in sponsoring or supporting the operational test and evaluation: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT); Dallas Areas Rapid Transit (DART); Federal Highway Administration (FHWA); and Federal Transit Administration (FTA). This paper provides a summary of the work completed thus far on the HOV lane enforcement study and operational test. The organization of the paper is as follows: Background: contains a brief summary of the literature and technology review conducted at the outset of the study, and the results of a demonstration test of video technology conducted in 1995; Overview of Enforcement and Review System: presents an overview of the HOV lane enforcement and review system, including the functional capabilities and the operational test procedures; and Current Status: provides the current status of the operational test.