Research

High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes opened on May 14, 2001 on the reconstructed Interstate 15 (I-15) in the Salt Lake Valley . Periodic performance evaluations of the HOV facilities help determine whether the lanes are serving their intended purpose. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the HOV lanes in the Salt Lake Valley in their current third year of operation. Vehicle volumes, speeds, and levels of service were collected by video detection using the video feeds provided by the Utah Department of Transportation. The “floating car” technique was used to obtain travel time. Vehicle occupancy, person throughput and violation rates were collected manually. Almost all of the National Cooperative Highway Research Program HOV Systems Manual standards were met with respect to vehicle volume, person throughput, and travel time. Based on the accident data analysis, HOV lanes did not appear to be inherently unsafe. A public opinion survey was conducted and the results indicate that there is strong support for the HOV lanes from both users and non-users. It was concluded from this study that the HOV lanes are performing more effectively than they did during their first year of operation. The findings indicate that the HOV lanes prove their value during more congested periods. As congestion in the Salt Lake Valley increases, the benefits of the HOV lanes are also expected to increase. There is a need for continued monitoring to identify and keep track of these benefits.

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