Design and Management of Flexible Transportation Networks Through the Use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)

This paper describes a project in which Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) capabilities were used to create a flexible transportation system, capable of coping with multiple uncertainties. Specifically, high occupancy toll (HOT), bus rapid transit (BRT) and truck-only toll (TOT) managed lanes were examined in a case study centered in Houston, Texas (United States), to determine the benefits of flexibility achieved with this system. With a growing realization that construction of sufficient freeway capacity to maintain free-flowing traffic in urban areas will be difficult due to costs, land use, neighborhood impacts and environmental concerns, the Texas Department of Transportation has been examining managed lanes as one method to fight the growing traffic congestion problem. The authors used a qualitative analysis procedure utilizing regional traffic demand modeling and real options analysis to assess the benefits of using ITS-managed lanes. They conclude that ITS-managed lanes can be configured in multiple ways to create flexibility in transportation systems, each of which provides value when dealing with uncertainty. The use of ITS-managed lanes can delay capacity expansion construction and can create a scenario in which traffic managers can switch operating strategies between HOT and TOT lanes over time. The authors found that, in general, for the ten year period under study, the managed lane facility is most valuable when used as a HOT lane, if just considering societal time savings benefits. However, when considering toll revenue as well as time savings benefits, the managed lane facility becomes more valuable when operated as a TOT lane.