Understanding what happens to travel behavior when managed-lanes are implemented or expanded has been a challenge faced by state DOTs during highway corridor and systems planning. Current modeling and state of the practice do not fully capture the extent to which HOV facility expansion changes travel behavior/demand on the managed lanes and on the general purpose lanes and do not delineate the resulting impacts on mode splits, travel times, and travel patterns. Given the availability of data, a nationwide analysis of travel behavior at locations where HOV and other managed lanes have been built or expanded would give planners a better idea of the range of travel behavior/demand changes that can be expected. Research into this topic would also support future research on HOT lanes and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).

The objective of this study is to evaluate and describe how expanding HOV or HOT facilities and other managed lane approaches (as distinct from services) influence corridor mode choice, travel times, and patterns. The results of this study will support better evaluation of needs and demand during highway system planning and corridor alternatives analysis. The research will be accomplished by the following tasks
:

1. Performing a literature search to identify documented research on changes to travel behavior when managed lanes are implemented or expanded.
2. Determining which states and metropolitan areas have established new or expanded HOV, HOT, or other managed lanes.
3. Interviewing officials in each area that has added managed lane capacity, gathering studies that have been done, and obtaining any available data on travel behavior changes.
4. Identifying up to five case study locations to examine travel behavior changes due to managed lanes. Data may include that available through special studies, ITS monitoring systems, and other sources.
5. Conducting case studies and summarizing their results and the findings derived from each.
6. Completing final report outlining findings, conclusions, currently available approaches for analyzing managed lane impacts on travel behavior, and recommending future research needs.

The contractor's final report is available HERE.