SEPTEMBER 2017 Reinvesting in the corridor: peak-use Shoulder Lane WSDOT’s first toll-funded improvement to I-405, the peak-use shoulder lane, opened to the public on April 24, 2017. This new 1.8 mile general purpose lane (between the SR 522 and I-5 interchanges) was retrofitted from the existing shoulder. Overhead lane control signs display whether the peak-use shoulder lane is open to drivers. The lane is generally open during the afternoon commute, between 2 p.m. and 7 p.m., but WSDOT can adjust this period under special circumstances. WSDOT is studying how to use modifications similar to this to improve traffic conditions on I-405. Improving Speed Performance The addition of the peak-use shoulder lane has improved speed performance in the northbound single-lane section, especially for general purpose lanes. Additionally, toll rates for this section have decreased since the peak-use shoulder lane opened to the public. Peak-use Shoulder lane speeds improve general purpose and express toll lane speeds – January 1, 2017 - June 30, 2017 miles per hour 70 Express Toll Lanes General Purpose Lanes Drivers like having a choice In June 2017 we surveyed I-405 drivers to learn what people think about the express toll lanes. The survey represented drivers who have used any part of I-405 (including regular lanes). June 2017 I-405 Driver Survey Do you like having the option to use the express toll lanes if you need a faster trip? Yes 60% No 40% Peak-use shoulder lane opens 60 T he Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) launched 15 miles of express toll lanes on Interstate 405 between the cities of Bellevue and Lynnwood on September 27, 2015. During the first 21 months of operations, drivers made more than 24.8 million trips in the express toll lane. Despite increased vehicle volumes on I-405, the express toll lanes are providing faster, more reliable trips to transit, carpools and toll-paying vehicles. Puget Sound population booming The I-405 corridor was already one of the most congested in the state. Since the express toll lanes opened in 2015, the Puget Sound region has grown by more than 168,000 residents. In King and Snohomish counties alone, the DOL has issued new drivers licenses to 148,000 previously out-of-state drivers. Peak period traffic volumes have grown between 13-20 percent, yet the express toll lanes are still providing faster, more reliable trips than the previous HOV lanes, which were often just as congested as the general purpose lanes. Single-occupancy vehicles, carpools and transit now have a more predictable option for faster speeds and shorter trips in the express toll lanes compared to the general purpose lanes. 40 30 20 10 January February March April May June What’s Next: 40 Mile Corridor The express toll lanes are part of the planned 40-mile corridor which will connect the SR 167 HOT lanes with the I-405 express toll lanes by extending the express toll lanes from Bellevue to Renton. Once completed, this corridor will provide drivers with an option for a faster, more reliable trip through the Puget Sound region, from Pacific to Lynnwood. There are six King County Metro and four Community Transit bus routes, as well as numerous vanpools, that rely on the express toll lanes to provide faster, more predictable trips. Since opening the express toll lanes, transit ridership on these routes have grown an average 5 percent and riders have saved up to 10 minutes compared to pre-express toll lane travel times. 17.1 MILLION 7.7 MILLION FREE HOV TRIPS 51,000+ DAILY TRIPS TOLL-EXEMPT CARPOOLS TOLL PAYERS vehicles per day vehicles per day 14,000 37,000 have a faster and more reliable trip 70% drivers CHOOSE to use express toll lanes 1 to 5x a month 11 MINUTES 14 southbound northbound compared to the GP lanes for the full corridor trip www.GoodToGo405.com/library.htm Title VI Notice to Public: It is the Washington State Department of Transportation’s (WSDOT) policy to assure that no person shall, on the grounds of race, color, national origin or sex, as provided by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise discriminated against under any of its federally funded programs and activities. Any person who believes his/her Title VI protection has been violated, may file a complaint with WSDOT’s Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO). For additional information regarding Title VI complaint procedures and/or information regarding our non-discrimination obligations, please contact OEO’s Title VI Coordinator at (360) 705-7082. 17-08-0345 TOTAL TRIPS TRAVEL TIME SAVINGS in EXPRESS TOLL LANE FOR M O RE INFOR M ATION Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information: This material can be made available in an alternate format by emailing the Office of Equal Opportunity at wsdotada@wsdot.wa.gov or by calling toll free, 855-362-4ADA(4232). Persons who are deaf or hard of hearing may make a request by calling the Washington State Relay at 711. 24.8 MILLION TOLLED TRIPS A valuable choice for drivers 50 0 I-405 Express Toll Lanes: 21 MONTH UPDATE 5% TRANSIT RIDERSHIP INCREASE TRANSIT SAVES UP TO 10 MINUTES $25M GENER ATED FOR IMPROVEMENTS $38.6 GROSS REVENUE MILLION $13.6 MILLION OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE COSTS TOLL-FUNDED PEAK-USE SHOULDER OPENED TO PUBLIC SPRING 2017 within each speed range 30-44 0- 2 9 0- 2 9 30-44 0- 2 9 0- 2 9 36% Goal Speeds greater than 45 mph 90% of peak periods >1% 62% Goal 15% Speeds greater than 2% 45 mph 90% of peak periods Dual-lane section 6% MPH Dual-lane section + 45 + 45 MPH 93% + 45 (Jan. 2015- June 2015) 30-44 Lynnwood Goal 2% Speeds greater than 45Tolling mph ETL 90% of peak periods (Jan. 2017June 2017) Percent of peak time periods when the lanes move vehicles HOVeach Pre-Tolling within speed range Percent of peak time periods when the lanes move vehicles within each speed range 5 MPH 1 express toll lane (single lane) 2 express toll lanes (dual lanes) peak-use shoulder lane 527 Single-lane section >1% Single-lane section 93% 81% 18% 10% >1% 4% 405 18% 10% 72% 522 Bothell Woodinville Kirkland 405 520 Bellevue Keeping Traffic Moving 81% 93% 4% 6% ETL Tolling (Jan. 2017- June 2017) Dual-lane section 15% 6% + 45 62% 36% MPH 30-44 72% Single-lane section The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires all express toll lanes to report annually on the performance target of 45mph 90 percent of peak periods. Currently, 72% the dual-lane section of the express toll lanes 18% is reaching this target but the single-lane section falls short. Slower speeds10% in the single-lane section have driven down the overall average so the express toll lanes are only hitting the target 81 percent of the time, however this is a substantial improvement to the previous HOV lanes which only reached the target 62 percent of peak periods. However, the peak-use shoulder lane added has already had noticeable effects on performance for the northbound single-lane section, including improved general purpose speeds. In the time since then, express toll lane performance has exceeded the 90 percent standard for the entire northbound direction, however, the southbound single lane section continues to not meet the standard. EXPRESS TOLL LANES MOVE AN AVERAGE SOUTHBOUND AND Generating revenue for more corridor improvements The Legislature directed I-405 express toll lane revenue to cover facility operation and maintenance costs, and any additional revenue to be reinvested back in to the corridor. During the first 21 months of operations, the I-405 express toll lanes generated $38.6 million in revenue with $13.6 million needed to cover all of the facility’s operations and maintenance costs. 23 mph faster NORTHBOUND THAN GENERAL PURPOSE LANES during peak periods Operations costs $13.6M After operating costs, $25 million is available for improvements to the I-405 corridor. $11.5 million has already been reinvested in the corridor for the peak-use shoulder lane, which added general purpose capacity to the northbound direction between SR 522 and the I-5 interchange. Most drivers pay less than $4 Funds for improvements $25M In March 2015, the Transportation Commission approved a minimum toll rate of 75 cents and a maximum of $10. Toll rates are adjusted by a congestion-based tolling algorithm designed to keep the express toll lane flowing by adapting the toll rate to match the demand. Tolls collected on I-405 Speed performance improving 19 mph faster SEPTEMBER 2017 $0.75-$4 $8 -$10 Spring 2017 Toll Rates $4 -$8 Toll rates increase and decrease to maximize efficient traffic movement in the express toll lanes. In the most recent quarter (April-June 2017), the average toll paid for all tolled trips was $2.04. Seventy-one percent of toll transactions during peak periods were for amounts below $4, while tolls of $8 or more only accounted for 11 percent. During the same timeframe, the average toll paid for peak period, peak direction trips was $2.96. The more drivers pay, the more time they save When congestion is severe in Travel Tme Savings in Minutes 25 the general purpose lanes, more drivers opt to use the express 20 toll lanes. As the lanes fill, the tolling algorithm increases the 15 toll to keep the lanes moving. 10 Drivers that use the lanes for higher tolls not only save time 5 over general purpose lanes, they save more time than cars that 0 enter the lanes during lower toll $2.00 $4.00 $6.00 Toll Rates $0 periods. This is because express toll lanes move vehicles faster than general purpose lanes during periods of congestion, thereby offering considerable time savings. $8.00 $10.00