| dc.description.abstract | High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are employed in many cities as a traffic
congestion mitigation technique. These lanes are intended to provide a travel time
benefit to carpools and buses, thus providing an incentive to form carpools or take
transit. The time and frustration involved in finding and using HOV lane access points
may act as a deterrent to HOV lane use. Thus, proper planning of HOV lane access may
be able to improve convenience for potential users, increasing HOV lane utilization.
By optimizing HOV lane volumes, high levels of service and trip reliability are
ensured for those who carpool. Congestion is also reduced on General Purpose Lanes
(GPLs) due to the diverted traffic. Public approval is tied to HOV lane utilization, which
may be affected by access. Thus, HOV lane success may be determined in part by
accessibility.
This research investigated the possible relationship between the time required to
access the HOV lane and travelers' choice of HOV lane as their mode. Additionally, the
distance to HOV lane access points and the type of access point used were examined for
their influence on HOV lane use rates. It was concluded that neither the type of HOV
lane access point, nor the added time necessary to access the HOV lane were significant
factors in HOV lane use rates. Instead, the convenience of carpool formation and the
convenience of HOV lane access to traveler's origins and destinations were found to be
the most important factors in HOV lane use rates. Specifically, the HOV lane use rate for the area 5 to 7 miles from the nearest HOV lane exit, which includes Downtown
Houston, was much higher than the use rates for any other area. | en |
