Register | Senior Sequence

James Nguyen

Academic Year: 2010-2011

Evaluating the Potential of a HOT BRT Synergistic Model for Low-Mid Density Cities

Area of Concentration

  • Transportation Planning

Key Terms:

High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) Lanes, Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Congestion Management, Light-Rail Transit (LRT), Suburban Sprawl

Significance/Broader Impact:

This purpose of this study is to explore more efficient and effective methods in providing regional transportation alternatives. Currently transit project focuses on light rail suffers from exceedingly high capital costs while highway expansion fails to consider the environmental effects and the effects on induced demand. Because the synergic concept is relatively new to the planning field where few models exist in practice, this study aims to bring familiarity of the concept to planners and public officials, providing an in depth analysis of a potentially more beneficial transit alternative. Thus, the relevance of this thesis lies in its applicability to contemporary planning practices.

References

Cervero, Robert “Induced Travel Demand: Research Design, Empirical Evidence, and Normative Policies.” Journal of Planning Literature 17, 1 (2002): 3 – 20.
Golob, Thomas. Joint models of attitudes and behavior in evaluation of San Diego I-15 Congestion Pricing Project. Institute of Transportation Studies. University of California, Irvine. 1999.
Johnston and Caroline Rodier. “Comparative System-Level Analysis: Automated Freeways, HOV Lanes, Transit Expansion, Pricing Policies and Land Use Intensification” University of California, Davis.
King, Davis, and Michael Manville, Donald Shoup. “The political calculus of congestion pricing.”
Supernak, Janusz. “HOT Lanes on Interstate 15 in San Diego: Technology, Impacts and Equity Issues.” 
Weinstein and Gian-Claudia Sciara. “Unraveling Equity in HOT Lane Planning: A View from Practice.” Journal of Planning Education and Research 174-184.

Links:

http://www.planetizen.com/node/38507
http://www.planetizen.com/node/38782
http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=67&fuseaction=projects.detail
http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=250&fuseaction=projects.detail

Fall SRP Proposal Abstract

The emergence of high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) over the recent years have proven successful in managing demand on several of the nation’s congested highway corridors. While HOT lanes at first glance may seem geared towards solely improving traffic efficiency for automobiles, it has the potential to deliver reliable transit services to lower density suburban communities. In particular, HOT lanes can support traditional elements of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at low marginal cost for additional infrastructure. This research examines the possibility of integrating HOT lanes and BRT as a way of ameliorating suburban congestion and transit woes. Using San Diego’s I-15 as a case study, this proposal will challenge traditional suburban approach towards Light-Rail Transit (LRT) through cost-benefit analysis. Evidence will be gathered though public agency planning and performance documentations, projected ridership forecasts, professional interviews, and relevant geo-spatial information data. The study will contribute to the literature on highway congestion management and bus rapid transit.

Winter Senior Research Project (SRP) Abstract

This paper investigates the potential of merging high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes with bus rapid transit (BRT) as a way of ameliorating suburban congestion and transit woes. Using the San Diego the I-15 HOT/BRT FasTrak project as a case of best practice, this research investigate FasTrak project’s potential to serve as a suburban transportation model by utilizing archival planning documentations, academic journals and literature and geographic information systems (GIS). In addition, the research also examined spatial and institutional forces favoring the creation a HOT BRT synergic model. The research found a HOT BRT synergic model is the most favorable transportation alternative for low-mid density city. Furthermore, this research suggests that it may be more beneficial for regional planning and transportation agencies to consider a HOT BRT synergic model over a transit oriented development (TOD) vision that has traditionally rely on the use of light rail transit (LRT).

Study's Major Findings and Contributions

The emergence of high-occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) over the recent years have proven successful in managing demand on several of the nation’s congested highway corridors. While HOT lanes at first glance may seem geared towards solely improving traffic efficiency for automobiles, it has the potential to deliver reliable transit services to lower density suburban communities. In particular, HOT lanes can support traditional elements of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) at low marginal cost for additional infrastructure. This study investigates the potential of merging HOT lanes with BRT as a way of ameliorating suburban congestion and transit woes. To accomplish this, a comparison of a HOT BRT synergic model with other traditional alternatives including light rail transit (LRT), local buses, high occupancy vehicles (HOV) lanes, and congestion pricing was conducted. A quantitative evaluation index was used for this purpose. The evaluation index examined the degree to which the two alternatives achieve the following: 1) reduces congestion 2) cost-effectiveness (capital/operating infrastructure expenditures) 3) utilization 4) public approval and 5) social equity. The second method of analysis investigated institutional factors that serve as barriers to the implementation of a HOT BRT synergic model. Literature, journals, and archival evidence on the progress of HOT BRT models were examined to determine the current progress of HOT lanes. The research concluded that a HOT BRT synergic holds many benefits over current transportation system practices and thus should be recognized and considered by planners and public officials as a viable future suburban transportation model. 

Evidence

Planning documentation, literary investigation, and archival news articles were used as evidence. Broad literary investigation were used to create the evaluation indexes. Online archival articles from Planetizen, a web source for planning news, commentary and interviews, provided insights on the progression of HOT lanes and HOT/BRT over the recent decades .In addition, the research examined the MTC 2035 long range plan and compared it the goals of the San Diego 2030 regional transportation plan.

Spatial Dimension

This project was conducted on a systems level, one that can serve an entire region or metropolitan center. Derivations of index figures were gathered through various places across the nation, however, a majority of the figures originated from the San Diego region, and specifically, the I-15 FasTrak Project. Spatially, areas that were low-mid density were approximately 20-40 people per hectare.

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