2013 Session: 775

• Can Psychological Traits Help Predict the Use of Managed Lanes?
  Abstract: This research examined the impact of several personality traits (conscientiousness, general locus of control, personal need for structure, risk tolerance (financial), driving risk perceptions, risky driving style, and careful driving style) on survey respondents’ travel choices on managed lanes. To begin, the survey was pilot tested using a sample of 24 graduate and 231 undergraduate students at Texas A&M University. The pilot test confirmed internal consistency reliability of the psychological measures and demonstrated that the pattern of relationships between the constructs was consistent with their hypothesized associations. The survey was then administered online to travelers in San Diego, Miami, and Denver. Mode choice models were developed using the mixed logit modeling method based on the 664 respondents from the three cities. The models found that several variables, particularly travel time, toll, gender and income, were better predictors of ML usage than the psychological variables. However, a couple of psychological variables were significant in a couple of the models:•respondents with a higher risky driving style score were less likely to choose the carpooling on the GPLs. This seems reasonable since many of the risky driving style questions dealt with faster travel – which MLs allow. •respondents with high conscientiousness scores were less likely to choose carpooling on the GPLs. This seems reasonable as those with high conscientiousness liked structure and both carpooling and the GPLs were the least structured options.Therefore, this research found that some psychological variables have the expected relationships with a traveler’s mode choice. However, the impact was minimal based on the models developed here.
  Authors: Devarasetty, Prem Chand; Burris, Mark W.; Arthur, Winfred; McDonald, Jennifer; Munoz, Gonzalo
  Authors: Devarasetty, Prem Chand; Burris, Mark W.; Arthur, Winfred; McDonald, Jennifer; Munoz, Gonzalo
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-3205
• Impacts to Transit from Variably Priced Toll Lanes: Results from U.S. Department of Transportation Urban Partnership Agreements
  Abstract: This paper describes the impacts to transit performance from three separate conversions of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into variably priced high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in Miami, Minneapolis, and Atlanta. The data showed that the conversions had no negative impact on bus performance. In all three cities, the buses experienced travel time savings after the conversion: 17 minutes in Miami, 4.5 minutes in Minneapolis, and 5 minutes in Atlanta. Similarly, the HOT conversions did not negatively impact bus ridership. Ridership increased over the baseline by 57 percent in Miami and 13 percent in Minneapolis. In Atlanta, ridership increased by 11 percent, and this increase began prior to the conversion. The overall perception of the HOT lanes by bus riders has been positive. In surveys, the bus riders from Miami and Minneapolis gave high ratings for travel times and reliability in the HOT lane corridors. Riders in Atlanta rated the bus service as “very good” but were not as positive about the tolls. They disagreed that the HOT conversion has improved their travel or been good for the Atlanta region. These negative responses may be due in part to widespread disgruntlement with the HOT concept that existed even prior to implementation.
  Authors: Pessaro, Brian Michael; Turnbull, Katherine F.; Zimmerman, Carol A.
  Authors: Pessaro, Brian Michael; Turnbull, Katherine F.; Zimmerman, Carol A.
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-0821
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Analysis of Fleet Composition and Vehicle Value for Atlanta I-85 HOT Lane
  Abstract: This paper evaluates the change in fleet composition associated with the conversion of a HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) to a HOT (High Occupancy Toll) facility on I-85 in Atlanta, GA. The assessment looks at the difference in vehicle makes and models as well as vehicle value of both the HOT as well as the general purpose (GP) lanes. License plate data were collected quarterly, one year before and one year after the conversion, producing a very large and detailed data set for analysis. The State motor vehicle registration database was employed to obtain vehicle make, model and model year data from license plate observations, which were then processed to estimate vehicle value. Using the HOT toll payment data for the identified license plates using the HOT lane over a three month period, this study also examines the relation between HOT lane usage and vehicle value. Prior studies show that vehicle value is correlated with household income. Hence, the study provides a preliminary look at the user demographics associated with congestion pricing without delving into detailed household surveys.
  Authors: Khoeini, Sara; Guensler, Randall
  Authors: Khoeini, Sara; Guensler, Randall
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Paper
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-4434
  Practice-Ready: Yes
• Impacts to Transit from Variably Priced Toll Lanes: Results from U.S. Department of Transportation Urban Partnership Agreements
  Authors: Pessaro, Brian
  Authors: Pessaro, Brian
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-0821
• Can Psychological Traits Help Predict the Use of Managed Lanes?
  Authors: Burris, Mark
  Authors: Burris, Mark
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-3205
• Analysis of Fleet Composition and Vehicle Value for Atlanta I-85 HOT Lane
  Authors: Khoeini, Sara
  Authors: Khoeini, Sara
  Year: 2013
  Document Type: Presentation
  Subject: Operations and Traffic Management
  Session: 775
  Paper Number: 13-4434