High-Occupancy Toll-Lane Innovations: I-394 MnPASS

This paper summarizes the development and performance of the I-394 MnPASS, a high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane introduced in Minnesota in May 2005. The system was adopted to increase the capacity and efficiency of high-occupancy vehicle lanes already in place on Interstate 394. The MnPASS lanes have no traditional tollbooths. Instead, drivers of single-occupancy vehicles must open an account and pay an electronic fee on a per-use basis. Accountholders install a transponder on their windshield to communicate electronically with a central computer system via electronic toll collection equipment mounted over the HOT lanes. The MnPASS HOT-lane project has introduced four innovations that may be transferable to similar projects in the United States and elsewhere: public-private partnerships, optional toll lanes adjacent to free lanes, dynamic pricing on multiple segments, and enforcement technology. Early indications suggest that the project is successful and operating largely as planned. Average daily use of the lanes exceeds 8,000 vehicles and peak flow efficiency has been improved. Public support also is beginning to increase.