FREEWAY TO FREEWAY RAMP METERING TWIN CITIES METRO AREA

Freeway traffic management efforts in the Twin Cities metro area started with the implementation of isolated ramp metering on E-35E north of downtown St. Paul in 1970. This system included the first two freeway to freeway ramp meters in the metro area, at the entrances to southbound I-35E from eastbound and westbound TH36. This paper presents an overview of the ramp metering program including specific information on freeway to freeway ramp meters. Information is also presented on the overall traffic management goals and objectives, the traffic management initiatives being deployed in addition to ramp metering, and the ramp metering program evaluation results.