Express toll lane

Express toll lanes (ETLs) is a type of road pricing system in which motorists may pay a toll to gain access to lanes that are separated from the mainstream traffic. Typically, these tolls increase as traffic density within the tolled lanes increases. This pricing scheme limits traffic demand within the lanes, ultimately resulting in lanes that can travel freely despite the congestion in the mainstream travel lanes.

Funding and construction

Implementation of these systems can be prohibitively expensive, due to the initial construction required – particularly with regard to providing access to and from the express toll lanes at interchanges. However, the long-term benefits – the decrease in delay to motorists and increased funding for the transportation agency – may outweigh the costs. To offset costs of construction, many transportation agencies lease the roads to a private institution. As a result, construction may be partially or fully funded by the private institution, who receives all or some of the income from tolling for a specified period of time.

HOT lanes

Among the largest criticisms of express toll lanes is that they provide congestion relief to the motorists of a higher socioeconomic class, giving rise to the phrase "Lexus lanes". The attempt to address this criticism typically consists of special treatment for high-occupancy vehicles. Personal vehicles carrying more than a specified amount of passengers (typically two or more) are permitted to use the express lanes at a reduced toll or for free. Additionally, public transit vehicles are typically exempted from the toll, and the transit fare may also be waived, resulting in free transportation along the route. Such exceptions, however, are typically referred to as "high-occupancy toll" (HOT) lanes rather than ETLs.

No existing highways are 100% ETL. Several make use of ETLs during peak hours, but revert to HOT lanes during off-peak hours. The only fully-ETL roadway in design/construction is in Maryland, along the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (Interstate 95) as it travels through Baltimore and Baltimore County. A project underway will add two express toll lanes in each direction, supplementing the existing four general purpose lanes in each direction.

Planning for this project took place as part of I-95 Master Plan process conducted by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Construction on the I-95 project began in 2006 and is expected to conclude in 2011. The state of Maryland has indicated its interest in exploring the addition of ETLs to other state highways, on a case-by-case basis. Other roadways currently being studied include I-270 and the Capital Beltway.

ETL corridors

Existing

*91 Express Lanes, Orange County, California, U.S.; opened 1995
*I-25 Express Lanes, Denver, Colorado, U.S.

Under construction

*Interstate 95, Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S.; planned opening 2011

Proposed

*Interstate 270, Montgomery and Frederick counties, Maryland, U.S.

See also

*High-occupancy toll

External links

* [http://www.mdot.state.md.us/Planning/Express%20Toll%20Lanes/Express%20Toll%20Lanes%20Index Maryland Express Toll Lanes Initiative]
* [http://www.i-95expresstolllanes.com/ I-95 ETL Project Website]