Toll Lanes Help

By Ron Sifen, 10/30/18.

The I-75/575 managed lanes have been open for a few weeks.  What are the results so far?

During the second week of October, there were more than 120,000 tolled trips.  Utilization is expected to steadily increase.

People who are using the managed lanes are reporting dramatically faster trip times.  For some people, the managed lanes are allowing them to get an extra half hour of sleep in the morning.  Some people are reporting getting home 45 minutes earlier and a stress-free drive by using the managed lanes.

But what about those who don't want to pay the tolls? I have been predicting for some time that the managed lanes would give north Cobb commuters a 5-7 minutes faster trip time each way, and that rush hour congestion would wind down quicker and end considerably earlier.

So, what does the early data show? * Average speed in the general purpose lanes at the peak of rush hour is now more than 10 miles per hour faster than the same time period last year.  That is occurring for both morning and afternoon.*

During the morning rush hour, the amount of time when the average speed in the general purpose lanes is less than 45 mph, has been shortened from nearly 4 hours to a little more than 2 hours.* Because of daily backups from I-285 onto I-75 southbound, I-75 remains congested for hours after rush hour. 

The managed lanes have reduced amount of time when the average speed in the general purpose lanes is less than 50 mph has been shortened from about 7 hours to about 3 hours.  So the managed lanes are helping to alleviate rush hour congestion and post-rush-hour congestion.

During the afternoon rush hour, the amount of time when the average speed in the general purpose lanes is less than 45 mph has been shortened from more than 3 hours to less than 1.5 hours.* Afternoon rush hour congestion is ending around an hour earlier.  As early as 5:30 pm, rush hour traffic is now moving around 15 miles per hour faster than last year.  By 6:00 pm, rush hour traffic is moving about 20 miles per hour faster than last year.

In both the morning and afternoon, rush hour traffic is not getting as bad at the peak; is beginning to de-congest quicker; and is ending earlier.  So, the managed lanes are benefiting all commuters in the I-75/575 corridor through Cobb.

There have been reports that during the first 2 weeks when there were no tolls, that morning rush hour started later.  In all likelihood, that is not sustainable, because there is no reason to pay a toll before there is any traffic congestion.  However, I do think that traffic flow will continue to move faster during rush hour, and that rush hour will continue to end much earlier, thanks to the managed lanes.

More managed lanes are coming to the Atlanta region.  GDOT is advancing what it calls the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP), which includes several important projects in the Atlanta region.

Three of the projects are managed lanes across the top half of I-285, from I-20 on the west side to Cumberland, Cumberland to Spaghetti Junction, and Spaghetti Junction to I-20 on the east side.  There will also be managed lanes on Ga 400.  Two additional projects are to redesign and rebuild the I-20 / I-285 interchanges on both the west side and the east side.  Those two poorly designed interchanges are currently backing up traffic for miles.

There has been some misunderstanding about the I-285 managed lanes from Cumberland to I-20 through Cobb County.  Some people are incorrectly claiming that GDOT plans to take away an existing lane and convert it to toll.The plan for the west side of I-285 is to add one toll lane in each direction between I-75 and I-20.  The toll lanes will be on the inside where the far left lanes are now.  However, the project will add an additional lane on the outside.  So we will wind up with the same number of free lanes as we currently have, plus the additional toll lanes.

Other cities are squandering transportation dollars on projects whose primary purpose is to incentivize high density development, and may do little to improve overall mobility.  GDOT's MMIP is investing in transportation projects that will significantly improve mobility in the Atlanta region and elsewhere in Georgia.

A city of 5 million people will always have some traffic congestion.  My new forecast is that after GDOT completes the MMIP, we will no longer be among the top 20 metro areas with the worst traffic congestion.

Source: Ron Sifen email.

Comments

I met Ron Sifen in 2012.  Ron was part of the coalition to defeat the 2012 TSPLOST. He is a brilliant and honest transportation expert. It looks like the toll lane solution is making traffic lighter in the free lanes and reducing travel times for all.

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader