Freeway Management and Operations Handbook

Description of Figure 9-4: Concept of Excess Capacity

This graph is labeled "Excess Capacity: The Key to High Occupancy Toll Lanes (from Colorado Value Express Lanes Feasibility Study, June 1999)". Volume to Capacity Ratio is shown on the vertical axis, ranging from 0% to 100%. Time of Day is shown on the horizontal axis, ranging from 5 AM to 8 PM. A curving line begins at 0% at 5 AM and curves up to 20% at 7 AM, down to 5% at 12 PM, up to 20% at 5 PM, and down to 5% at 8 PM. The area below the line is labeled HOV volume. The area above the line is labeled excess capacity.