MPC Research Reports
Report Details

Title:	Express Lane Genetic Algorithm Microsimulation Evaluation Part 2
Authors:	Peter T. Martin, Ivana Vladisavljevic, James Ries, and Bhagavan Raju Nadimpalli
University:	University of Utah
Publication Date:	Feb 2009
Report #:	MPC-09-210
Project #:	MPC-282
TRID #:	01129915
Keywords:	automated toll collection, calibration, decision making, decision support systems, express lanes, genetic algorithms, high occupancy toll lanes, high occupancy vehicle lanes, microsimulation, road pricing, travel time

Abstract

Innovative lane management offers the opportunity to levy fees for the premium road space. Express Lanes in Utah offer road users reduced journey times for a fee. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) has converted the High Occupancy-Vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 15 (I-15) from 600 North Street in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, to University Parkway (SR 265) in Orem, Utah County. Subscribers and HOVs now share the same lane, which is designated as an "Express Lane." This concept will be advanced further through the application of an electronic toll-collection system. Improper pricing policy for the High Occupancy-Toll (HOT) lanes could cause a large debate among travelers and potentially jeopardize success of the HOT deployment. Hence, UDOT management would like to make an informative decision about further HOT pricing. The I-15 VISSIM model presented, can serve as a decision support tool. This report presents a modified and calibrated I-15 VISSIM model that integrates HOT pricing. A separate HOT link has been created, adjacent to the General Purpose (GP) lane model. The model is calibrated by comparing the GPS travel times, which were obtained during the data collection, with the VISSIM travel times. This report proposes an algorithm for HOT pricing. The final results show that, while VISSIM travel times in express lanes closely resemble GPS travel times in both directions, the GP lanes also reflect travel times with the exception of a few intersections.