SR 237 Express Lanes Policy Implications and Lessons Learned
Murali Ramanujam, Casey Emoto & Gene Gonzalo
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA)
2
Silicon Valley
May 5, 2016
3
SR 237 Express Lanes
Conversion of HOV to HOV Connector
May 5, 2016
GP Connector
HOV Connector
May 5, 2016
5
SR 237 Express Lanes
Increased Express Lanes Usage
May 5, 2016
6
SR 237 Express Lanes
Average Corridor Speeds (FY 2016 Quarter 3)
May 5, 2016
Westbound
Eastbound
7
SR 237 Express Lanes
Downstream congestion (HOV Only)
May 5, 2016
8
SR 237 Express Lanes
Occupancy Requirement
May 5, 2016
9
SR 237 Express Lanes
Clean Air Vehicle Count
May 5, 2016
Date 1/14/2016 2/4/2016 3/16/2016 Average Percent
Time 8:00-9:00 AM 8:00-9:00 AM 8:00-9:00 AM
Tolled Vehicles 167 162 236 188 13%
Clean Air Vehicles 573 507 605 562 38%
Carpool 787 641 728 719 49%
Total 1527 1310 1569 1,469 100%
Date 1/13/2016 2/22/2016 3/16/2016 Average Percent
Time 4:30-5:30 PM 4:30-5:30 PM 4:30-5:30 PM
Tolled Vehicles 186 195 155 179 14%
Clean Air Vehicles 334 385 481 400 31%
Carpool 768 761 580 703 55%
Total 1,288 1,341 1,216 1,282 100%
Morning Peak Hour
Afternoon Peak Hour
10
Green Car for The Masses
May 5, 2016
11
SR 237 Express Lanes
FY 2015 CHP Citations Summary
May 5, 2016
DWL Crossing
(7%)
Carpool (73%)
Speed
(4%)
Seatbelt (1%)
Cell Phone (3%)
Primary Collision
Factor (3%)
Mechanical (9%)
DWL Crossing Carpool
Speed Seatbelt
Cell Phone Primary Collision Factor
MechanicalT
ota
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ita
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Ve
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arn
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s
DW
L C
rossin
g
Ca
rpo
ol
Sp
ee
d
Se
atb
elt
Ce
ll P
ho
ne
Pri
ma
ry C
oll
isio
n
Fa
cto
r
Me
ch
an
ica
l
Total
FY (2015)537 110 39 390 22 4 17 18 47
12
SR 237 Express Lanes
FasTrak Flex Switchable Transponders
May 5, 2016
13
Access arrangement
May 5, 2016
14
SR 237 Express Lanes
Tolled Revenue by Month
May 5, 2016
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
140000
To
lled
Rev
nu
e
Month
FY 2012 FY 2013 FY 2014 FY 2015 FY 2016
March 2015 –
EB Max - $4 to $5
November 2015 –
EB Max - $5 to $6
WB Max- $6 to $7
April 2015 –
WB Max - $5 to $6
15
Policy Implications on Operations
• Performance metric – minimum speed
• HOV requirement and exemptions
• Enforcement – toll violation or occupancy violation
• Business rules – tag requirement
• Toll rate – cap or no cap
• Goal – maximize revenue or throughput
• Hours of operations – peak period or 24/7
May 5, 2016
16
What Are The Lessons Learned?
• Focus on providing “Express” or reliable trip
• Expand hours of operations beyond peak period
• Use automation techniques to capture toll violation
enforcement
• Implement dual lane Express Lanes where possible
• Engage users to get input through user group and
provide real-time information
May 5, 2016