THE APPLICATION OF INTELLIGENT VEHICLE HIGHWAY SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY TO HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE FACILITIES. FIFTH NATIONAL HIGH-OCCUPANCY VEHICLE (HOV) FACILITIES CONFERENCE, HOV FACILITIES--COMING OF AGE, CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS, APRIL 28 - MAY 1, 1991, SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

This White Paper examines the application of intelligent vehicle-highway systems (IVHS) technology to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) facilities. Intelligent vehicle-highway systems represent a continually evolving group of advanced technologies directed at improving the efficiency of the overall transportation system. HOV facilities, which provide priority measures for high-occupancy vehicles, are intended to help maximize the person-carrying capacity of the roadway. As outlined in this paper, combining many IVHS technologies with HOV facilities offers numerous benefits related to improving the efficiency of the total transportation system, increasing mobility, reducing congestion, improving air quality, and reducing fuel consumption. These benefits can be realized through the development of an HOV IVHS program. This paper outlines the initial focus and elements of such a program and is intended to provide a starting point for the development of a comprehensive and coordinated HOV IVHS research, demonstration, and full implementation program. The proposed HOV IVHS program builds on the activities currently underway in a few areas, represents a multi-year, multi-phased effort, and has a projected total budget of approximately $1.2 to $3.0 billion over the next twenty years.