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National Road Pricing Conference

Case Studies
San Diego, California — I-15 Express Lanes Expansion

"I-15 Express Lanes Expansion" – I-15, San Diego, CA, Managed Lanes Project

Logo. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration.

Project Description

This project builds on the success of the existing eight-mile reversible HOV lanes on I-15 and expands SANDAG's FasTrak road pricing program by creating a four-lane managed lane facility for a total of 20-miles.

Pricing Parameters

  • Distance-based dynamic pricing for SOVs to maintain LOS C
  • New 8-mile Middle Segment is open 24/7
  • Existing 8-mile South Segment as follows:
    • Monday – Thursday
      Southbound: 5:30 a.m. – noon
      Northbound: 1 p.m. – 7 p.m.
    • Friday a.m.
      Southbound: 5:45 a.m. to 11 a.m.
    • Friday p.m., Saturday, Sunday
      Northbound: 5 p.m. on Friday to 5 a.m. the following Monday
  • Toll free for:
    • HOV 2+ carpools
    • Transit buses
    • Emergency vehicles
    • Motorcycles
    • LEVs
  • Toll Rate - $0.50 to $4.00, with maximum toll of $8.00
  • No transponder required for HOVs, SOVs must mount a transponder on their vehicle

Unique Features

  • A BRT system operates in the managed lanes. Transit stations and park-and-ride lots are located along I-15 and will be connected to the managed lanes with direct access ramps. These ramps allow BRT buses, carpoolers, and I-15 FasTrak customers to bypass freeway on-ramps.
  • A moveable barrier maximizes express lane capacity by configuring the lanes with the flow of traffic. This accommodates increased congestion during peak hours and handle incidents and special events.

Project Support

Public feedback has shown that I-15 FasTrak customers, transit riders, and other corridor commuters overwhelmingly support the FasTrak project and its expansion on the I-15 Express Lanes.

Project Website

http://www.keepsandiegomoving.com/I-15-intro.html [Link no longer active]
http://fastrak.511sd.com/index.aspx
http://www.sandag.org/index.asp?projectid=67&fusecation=projects.detail

Photo. Direct access ramp to the I-15 managed lanes in San Diego, California. Graphic. Drawing of managed lanes and main lanes traffic and its access points in San Diego.

Project Goals

The goal of the I-15 Express Lanes is to keep traffic moving through the I-15 corridor, adjusting as needed to accommodate increased congestion or special events. The Express Lanes are designed to offer multiple choices for commuters and were created to provide vanpools, carpools, and express bus and FasTrak customers with a smoother, quicker, and more reliable trip along the booming I-15 corridor. The Express Lanes also help ease demand on the general purpose lanes, benefiting all commuters and contributing to a "greener" community as commuters realize both the environmental and economic benefits of ridesharing and public transit.

Project Length

20 miles (16 miles currently open)

Number of HOT lanes

4 lanes (2+2 or 3+1 configuration)

Midpoint Access

5 BRT direct accesses and 6 at-grade access points

Lane Separation

Concrete exterior with moveable (zipper) barrier interior

Daily Traffic

455,213 FasTrak trips in third quarter of 2009

Capital Costs

The total cost for the freeway improvements, including expansion of FasTrak and the transit elements of the I-15 Express Lanes, is estimated to be approximately $1.4 billion in current dollars. (www.keepsandiegomoving.com)

Operating Costs

FY 2010 – $2.4 million with $500k going to transit

Revenue

FY 2010 – $3.3 million

Project Contact

Kimberly Weinstein
kwe@sandag.org
(619) 699-0725

Version 1 8/23/10
HOT0901.0410.20

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