VPP Projects Involving Tolls
Category: Priced Lanes
Sub-Category: Express Toll Lanes

Project - MINNESOTA: Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes

The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, encompassing Minneapolis and St. Paul, will be converting narrow bus-only shoulder lanes along the northbound portion of Interstate 35W between 46th Street and downtown Minneapolis to wider priced dynamic shoulder lanes (PDSLs), and will be moving these lanes from the right-most to the left-most portion of the roadway to minimize conflict with entering vehicles. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles will operate at no charge in the PDSLs with access allowed during peak times to single-occupant vehicles whose drivers are willing to pay the toll, with prices set to ensure free-flow travel. PDSLs will enable bus speeds to increase to 50 mph from the current bus-only shoulder lane speeds of 35 mph or less. In the longer term, the goal is to convert as many miles as possible of Minnesota's existing 260-mile bus-only shoulder lane network to PDSLs.

The plan is for the PDSLs to link up with new, dynamically-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate I-35W, created by converting the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes which extend from approximately I-494 to the Burnsville Parkway, and also to extend these HOT lanes through the Crosstown Commons between I-494 and 46th Street. The end result will then be a new 15-mile, dynamically-priced managed-lane corridor, speeding bus and HOV trips and also providing motorists a new option to experience a fast and reliable trip.

Implementation Funds Awarded

2007

Anticipated Completion Date

September 2009

October - December 2011 Update

The Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes (PDSL) opened to travelers on September 28, 2009. It operates northbound on I-35W from 46th Street to downtown Minneapolis from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The lanes are open to the same user groups as the HOT lanes. The PDSL reverts to a shoulder at other times and is not open to traffic. In December of 2010, the Crosstown Commons section of the I-35W UPA project opened providing a 16 mile continuous HOT lane in the corridor from Burnsville into downtown Minneapolis. In October, 2011, a two mile extension was completed. The facility now has nearly two years of performance data on the project. On the southern portion of the project (Burnsville Parkway to I-494) there are nearly 2500 toll paying customers per day. From I-494 to downtown Minneapolis, the number of toll paying customers has grown to 700-800 users per day. Demand and revenue continue to grow on the MnPASS portion of the project. Drivers appear to understand messages when the shoulder is open or closed and violations have not been a significant problem. A detailed evaluation of the corridor is currently underway as a component of the Urban Partnership Agreement.

For More Information Contact

Kenneth R. Buckeye
Program Manager Value Pricing
Phone: (651) 366-3737
E-mail: kenneth.buckeye@dot.state.mn.us

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Search Tolling and Pricing: Home About Tolling and Pricing Programs Value Pricing Pilot Program Express Lanes Demonstration Program HOV Facilities Interstate System Reconstruction & Rehabilitation Pilot Program Interstate System Construction Toll Pilot Program Title 23 United States Code Section 129 Toll Agreements Team Webinar Series Resources Expression of Interest Regulations/Policy FAQs	Home > VPP Program > Projects > Involving Tolls > Priced Lanes VPP Projects Involving Tolls Category: Priced Lanes Sub-Category: Express Toll Lanes Project - MINNESOTA: Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes The Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, encompassing Minneapolis and St. Paul, will be converting narrow bus-only shoulder lanes along the northbound portion of Interstate 35W between 46th Street and downtown Minneapolis to wider priced dynamic shoulder lanes (PDSLs), and will be moving these lanes from the right-most to the left-most portion of the roadway to minimize conflict with entering vehicles. Buses and high-occupancy vehicles will operate at no charge in the PDSLs with access allowed during peak times to single-occupant vehicles whose drivers are willing to pay the toll, with prices set to ensure free-flow travel. PDSLs will enable bus speeds to increase to 50 mph from the current bus-only shoulder lane speeds of 35 mph or less. In the longer term, the goal is to convert as many miles as possible of Minnesota's existing 260-mile bus-only shoulder lane network to PDSLs. The plan is for the PDSLs to link up with new, dynamically-priced high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on Interstate I-35W, created by converting the existing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes which extend from approximately I-494 to the Burnsville Parkway, and also to extend these HOT lanes through the Crosstown Commons between I-494 and 46th Street. The end result will then be a new 15-mile, dynamically-priced managed-lane corridor, speeding bus and HOV trips and also providing motorists a new option to experience a fast and reliable trip. Implementation Funds Awarded 2007 Anticipated Completion Date September 2009 October - December 2011 Update The Priced Dynamic Shoulder Lanes (PDSL) opened to travelers on September 28, 2009. It operates northbound on I-35W from 46th Street to downtown Minneapolis from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The lanes are open to the same user groups as the HOT lanes. The PDSL reverts to a shoulder at other times and is not open to traffic. In December of 2010, the Crosstown Commons section of the I-35W UPA project opened providing a 16 mile continuous HOT lane in the corridor from Burnsville into downtown Minneapolis. In October, 2011, a two mile extension was completed. The facility now has nearly two years of performance data on the project. On the southern portion of the project (Burnsville Parkway to I-494) there are nearly 2500 toll paying customers per day. From I-494 to downtown Minneapolis, the number of toll paying customers has grown to 700-800 users per day. Demand and revenue continue to grow on the MnPASS portion of the project. Drivers appear to understand messages when the shoulder is open or closed and violations have not been a significant problem. A detailed evaluation of the corridor is currently underway as a component of the Urban Partnership Agreement. For More Information Contact Kenneth R. Buckeye Program Manager Value Pricing Phone: (651) 366-3737 E-mail: kenneth.buckeye@dot.state.mn.us Back to Express Toll Lanes Projects
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