Summary

HOV lanes are underused, although they have an estimated capacity of 2,000 to 2,200 vehicles per hour. However, as proposals for using this "excess" capacity for hybrid and toll-paying vehicles, preliminary analyses of HOV lanes are showing a significantly lower capacity around 1,400 vehicles per hour.

This research focuses on determining the capacities of all HOV lanes and, in doing so, determine actual "excess" capacity. As a result, the number of hybrid and toll-paying vehicles that can be accommodated will be determined as well.

HOV lane capacity depends on the HOV facility's configuration. California has three different configurations: 1) time-actuated, not separated one lane HOVs in the Bay Area, 2) 24-hour, striped one-to-two lane HOVs in the Los Angeles Area, and 3) a separate facility with a physical barrier like on I-15 in San Diego.

Using PeMS data, this research seeks to estimate the actual capacity of these HOV facilities. This data is essential in formulating policies surrounding the usage of HOV "excess" capacity.

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