Title
Study of Public Acceptance of Tolling with New Capacity and Credits: Concepts of FAST Miles and FEE Lanes
Publisher
Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Services Section
Abstract
Conversion of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes has become a relatively
common managed lanes technique now employed in cities across the U.S. HOT lanes are created by developing a
pricing system for existing HOV lanes that allow single occupancy vehicles to gain access to HOV lanes by paying
a fee. Conversion of existing general purpose lanes to toll lanes or HOT lane operations, however, has not yet won
public support as the perception persists that these “free” lanes have already been paid for and such conversions are
a take-away. Focus groups were held in Minnesota to understand what policies, conditions, designs and
operational characteristics could be considered that may satisfy concerns about general purpose lane adaptations to
optional toll lanes or Flexible and Efficient Express (FEE) Lanes. FEE Lanes envision all users, except transit,
paying a toll during peak-periods, with the lane reverting back to “free” operation outside of the peaks. Three
configurations of FEE lanes were presented and a toll credit system was offered as a means to compensate users
who may view the conversion as a take-away.
Participants liked what they have already seen work, which is one priced lane on I-394 MnPASS, but were also
concerned about user safety and equity. The credit system, which attempts to address user equity, was a source of
confusion for many focus group participants. Although some participants seemed to like the idea of getting the
credits to use FEE lanes, there were numerous concerns about logistics of credit management and distribution.
These findings highlight the need for increased education and marketing about road pricing options which can
assist in building support for a variety of pricing options, such as FEE lanes.
Funding information
Minnesota Department of Transportation
Research Services Section
Suggested Citation
Lari, Adeel; Aultman, Sara.
(2010).
Study of Public Acceptance of Tolling with New Capacity and Credits: Concepts of FAST Miles and FEE Lanes.
Minnesota Department of Transportation Research Services Section.
Retrieved from the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy,
https://hdl.handle.net/11299/150329.