WARMING UP TO HOT LANES

There is a high degree of interest in High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes (Managed Lanes) in the USA because of their potential to reduce congestion. HOT lanes allow the use of single-occupancy vehicles in High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes providing that they pay a toll. This improves use of the available capacity of HOV lanes. Support is also increasing for variable toll rates in response to congestion. The Route 91 Express HOT lanes and I-15 managed lanes in California are described. The MnPass Project that will convert existing HOV lanes on the I-394 in Minnesota into HOT lanes is outlined. The possibility of combining managed HOT lanes and bus rapid transit strategies is considered.