Managed Lanes
A solution for improving traffic in congested urban routes
Traffic congestion is one of the major challenges of urban mobility in the present and facing the future.
The concentration of people in cities, new modes of transit that provide nearly universal access to cars and the lack of financing to strengthen transport infrastructure all yield a single result: more traffic jams. We have developed an innovative solution to improve traffic management, Managed Lanes.
The idea seems simple. It consists of adding additional lanes with dynamic tolls (which change in real time based on traffic conditions) to congested urban highways. At the same time, the existing lanes are improved, while staying free and becoming more efficient.
Benefits
For users
Safe, predictable and reliable solution
- Provides users with an option as they can always choose between the Managed Lanes and the toll-free alternative, depending on their needs at any given time.
- Given their reliability, Managed Lanes enable users to effectively control their travel times, thus improving their quality of life.
- Particularly useful in emergency situations or for users providing essential or high value services.
For Policy Makers
Efficient, flexible solution
- Increase in effective capacity of the road, increasing average speeds both in the managed lanes and the free lanes.
- Efficient use of public funds: generates a revenue stream that makes projects feasible and unlocks funds that can be used to meet other needs.
- Provides flexibility to policy makers as the additional revenue stream can be applied towards other mobility solutions, such as subsidies for mass transit or discounts for HOVs.
For the Society
Traffic noise reduction and reduction of carbon emissions
- A sustainable solution that reduces carbon emissions per commuter by decreasing congestion.
- Significant traffic noise reduction and improved air quality for local residents.
- Managed Lanes start alleviating congestion problems from day one and, combined with a network approach, provide a more sustainable, long-term solution for heavily congested corridors.
Reducing Traffic Congestions
Managed Lanes provide users with the choice to pay a fee to escape traffic gridlock or use the general purpose lanes for free. Drivers are informed of the current toll rates and traffic conditions well in advance of each entrance so that they have enough time to decide whether to use the managed lanes or continue on the free lanes, depending on their needs
In the United States, this type of solution has become very popular in recent years, as it effectively reduces congestion and is developed using the public-private partnership model (PPP or 3P), which reduces the public expense and incentivizes efficient design and management by the developer.
We are the leader in this emerging sector in this North American country, managing five projects with nearly 1.5 billion euros of capital committed and 8.5 billion euros invested.
The Economic Development of Managed Lanes
In order to resolve the lack of overall investment in infrastructure to meet the needs of a population that is increasingly urban, it becomes necessary to find more funds and to use available funds efficiently. In large, complex projects, as in the case of infrastructure projects, these propositions may be difficult for public administrations to meet.
In order to achieve them, the contributions of innovation and technology are necessary, as is active participation by the private sector through the model (PPP or 3P). This method not only reduces the use of public funds and provides access to new sources of financing, but it is also more efficient than traditional contracting methods.
Projects like Managed Lanes are especially well-suited for development as public-private partnerships. For example, in our projects in Texas, we have been able to reduce the initial investment for the same level of service by 27%. In the case of highway I-66 in the state of Virginia, we have improved the use of additional lanes by 11%, reducing general congestion of the infrastructure.
Projects
Our Managed Lanes
Discover our highways
407 ETR Highway
LBJ Express Highway, TX
North Tarrant Express Highway, TX
I-77 Express Lanes, NC
Transform I66 Outside The Beltway, VA
Innovation Applied to Traffic Management
In the Managed Lanes solution, users may choose whether or not to use the paid lanes at various points along the infrastructure. Furthermore, the prices applied vary depending on the relative speed between the toll lanes and free lanes, traffic makeup, weather and day of the month and week, among other factors. This solution is only possible thanks to the role of technology.
- Managed Lanes combine three innovative congestion reduction tools: additional effective capacity, electronic technology and dynamic pricing. To control the traffic flow and eliminate congestion, drivers pay a toll to use the Managed Lanes.
- Managed Lanes are viable only with the gate-free electronic toll system. Managed Lanes are express lanes built adjacent to existing freeways. Physically separated from the free lanes, with on-off ramps at selected locations.
- The additional lanes are operated under a dynamic tolling regime that guarantees a minimum level of service. The price fluctuates based upon the level of congestion and the speed on the Managed Lanes.
- During the project’s design phase, it is necessary to characterize traffic with the greatest level of detail and accuracy possible (origins and destination, daily and weekly changes, congestion points, etc.), an analysis that is only possible with big data technologies and the use of external data.
- Already in operation phase, setting prices in real time requires continuous monitoring of traffic parameters and environmental parameters and processing of these parameters with machine learning algorithms that are able to set the prices dynamically.
