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Title:

Moving Beyond Lexus Lanes: Equity Considerations for Managed Lanes

Accession Number:

01091574

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 USA
Order URL: http://pubsindex.trb.org/orderform.html

Abstract:

Managed lanes facilities have existed in some form for over 30 years. As urban areas continue to experience severe traffic congestion from rapid population growth and transportation agencies face continual crises in funding, the HOV concept has been modified to meet a broad array of transportation challenges. The pricing of roadways and managed lanes facilities is becoming a popular option for transportation agencies that must do more with fewer resources. The pricing of infrastructure is not at all popular with the public. Facilities that incorporate a pricing element are often viewed as unfair. One of the most popular and often quoted charges leveled against priced managed lanes facilities is that they only benefit the rich. The term “Lexus Lanes” is a popular pejorative used by critics of such facilities that has proven particularly effective at eliciting populist sentiment and severely hindering, and even halting, the implementation of managed lanes projects across the nation. While upper income drivers may use such facilities at a higher rate than lower and middle income travelers, the facilities nonetheless offer benefits to all travelers. Managed lanes can offer strong incentives to utilize public transit and carpooling and help users avoid significant penalties due to delay. Payment options can be modified to better accommodate low income residents without access to credit cards or checking accounts. In addition, the cost of use associated with managed lanes projects are typically borne by higher income travelers; as such facilities are generally located in high income areas.

Monograph Accession #:

01084478

Report Numbers:

08-2422

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 USA

Authors:

Baker, Richard Tremain

Texas Transportation Institute

Ungemah, David H

Texas Transportation Institute

Goodin, Ginger D

Texas Transportation Institute

Geiselbrecht, Tina Collier

Texas Transportation Institute

Pagination:

20p

Publication Date:

2008

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 87th Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC
Date: 2008-1-13 to 2008-1-17
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

DVD

Features:

Figures (3) ; Photos (4) ; References (36) ; Tables (1)

Subject Areas:

Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Public Transportation; Society; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2008 Paper #08-2422

Files:

TRIS, TRB

Last Modified:

Apr 23 2008 9:25AM