safe roads, reliable journeys, informed travellers m1 junctions 7 - 10 high occupancy vehicle (hov)...
TRANSCRIPT
Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
M1 Junctions 7 - 10 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane
Presentation for PCM International Scanning Tour
15th June 2006
Format of talk
- History of scheme to date
- Project organisation
- Proposed scheme features
- Problem areas• Empty lane fears• Eligible vehicles• Variable signing issues• Layout issues• Enforcement• Operational issues
Scheme location plan
• Already proposing to widen M1 from dual 3 lane to dual 4 lane standard
• 160,000 vpd now
• Rising to over 200,000 vpd by 2023
• M1 is key part of motorway network
• Introduction of HOV lane would be a very late scheme change
• Only 3 HOV schemes on local roads in UK
Background
• July 04 Secretary of State requests HOV feasibility study from Highways Agency (HA)
• Nov 04 Initial HOV Feasibility Study report• Dec 04 M1 HOV pilot announced by Secretary of
State • Mar 05 M1 motorway widening contract awarded• Mar 06 Start of works on M1 widening J6A to 10
Scheme history
• Jul 05 Scheme Brief for HOV lane issued by Dept for Transport (for a low-tech solution)
• Summer 05 to May 06 HOV “Before Monitoring” traffic surveys
• May 06 Draft Preliminary Designs and VISSIM micro-simulation completed (revisions ongoing)
Scheme history
• Jun 06 Ministerial Submission summarising design proposals
• Jul 06(?) Secretary of State approval to complete HOV design and start construction
• Jan 08 (earliest) to Dec 08 (latest) Staged opening of M1 HOV Lane??
Future programme
Project organisation
5 key strands
• Before & after monitoring
• Operational strategy
• Enforcement strategy
• Marketing & publicity
• Scheme design and safety case
• Layout and Operation• Length: Approx. 11km (7 miles) between J7 and J10• Lane 4 – Solid white line separation and 2+ lane
marking• Non-segregated - Access and Egress at any point• Overhead gantry signing – variable signs (rotational
prisms?)• 24/7 operation of lanes
• Eligible Vehicles• Eligible: 2+cars, motorcycles, (and buses ? )• Excluded: HGVs, Single Occupancy Taxis, Towing
Vehicles
Design Features
Traffic Flow Summary, 2006
• 2+ represents only a small proportion of all vehicles in the AM and PM peak periods (typically 8% to 15% of all traffic).
• 2+ vehicle demand is close to the 500 vehicle minimum HOV lane threshold (476 vehicles J10-J9) in 2006.
• Higher number of 2+ vehicles in the Inter Peak and especially at weekends.
• HGVs represent between 14% and 29% of all traffic on weekdays.
Current Traffic Flows
Microsimulation Traffic Forecasts, 2008 & 2023
Forecast HOV Usage (2+ vehicles choosing to use the 2+lane)
2008 AM Peak: 300-660 vehs
2008 PM Peak: 250-630 vehs
Represents 60% of all eligible vehicles at best, but could be as low as 25%)
By 2023: 480-920 vehs (Represents 55%-70% of all eligible traffic)
Non-eligible vehicles and HOVs choosing not to use can be accommodated in adjacent 3-lanes (max. V/C ratio 0.91).
Forecast HOV usage
No HGVsNo coaches
For vehicles with 2 or more persons &
2+2+ lane 1 m ahead²¹
No HGVsNo coaches
For vehicles with 2 or more persons &
2+2+ lane 1 m ahead²¹
No HGVsNo coaches No HGVsNo HGVsNo coachesNo coaches
For vehicles with 2 or more persons &For vehicles with 2 or more persons &
2+2+ lane 1 m ahead²¹2+2+ lane 1 m ahead²¹
Eligible vehicles
2+2+ lane2+2+ lane
Starts
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹
Starts
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹1m ahead²¹²¹
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹1m ahead²¹²¹
Ends
2+2+ lane
Ends
2+2+ lane
Signing
Rotational Prisms Signing
2+ Lane Arrangement
First advance sign for (Lane 4) 2+ lane
Northbound >>
<< Southbound
Starts
2+2+ lane
1m aheadStarts
2+2+ lane
1m ahead
Sta
rts
2+2+la
ne
1m
ah
ea
dS
tarts
2+2+la
ne
1m
ah
ea
d
End
s
2+2+la
ne
End
s
2+2+la
ne
2+ Lane Arrangement
Second advance sign with countdown
Northbound >>
Starts
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹
Starts
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹1m ahead²¹²¹
<< Southbound
2+ lane 2+ lane
Starts
2+2+lane
1m ahead
² ¹
Starts
2+2+lane
1m ahead
² ¹ 1m ahead
² ¹² ¹
End
s
2+2+la
ne
1m a
head
²¹
End
s
2+2+la
ne
1m a
head
²¹1m
ahe
ad²¹ ²¹
2+ Lane Arrangement
Start of 2+ lane
Northbound >>
2+2+ lane2+2+ lane
2+2+lane
2+2+lane
<< Southbound
2+ lane 2+ lane
2+lane
2+2+la
ne2+2+
lane
2+ Lane Arrangement
Advance sign for End of 2+ lane
Northbound >>
2+lane
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹1m ahead²¹²¹
Ends
2+2+lane
1m ahead
² ¹
Ends
2+2+lane
1m ahead
² ¹ 1m ahead
² ¹² ¹
Sta
rts
2+2+la
ne
1m a
head
²¹
Sta
rts
2+2+la
ne
1m a
head
²¹1m
ahe
ad²¹ ²¹
<< Southbound
2+ Lane Arrangement
End of 2+ lane
Northbound >>
<< Southbound
Ends
2+2+ lane
Ends
2+2+ lane
Ends
2+2+lane
Ends
2+2+lane
Sta
rts
2+2+la
ne
1m
ah
ea
dS
tart
s
2+2+la
ne
1m
ah
ea
d
2+ Lane Arrangement
Lane 4 merges with Lane 3.
Lanes 1 and 2 continue ahead.
Northbound >>
<< Southbound
Enforcement
A police function, but:-• Not a high priority issue• Resource intensive• Safety concerns over stopping offenders
on high speed roads• Payment for police time is contentious
Enforcement
Automatic enforcement• Camera technology not proven
Penalties• Current regulations do not suit HOV• New legislation needed to change level of
fines (£30/£60)• Are penalty points appropriate for non
safety related offence
Compliance
Likely solution for M1 trial:-• Occasional Police campaigns• Some Police patrols• Regular Traffic Officer patrols• Observation platforms• High visibility camera trial• Warning letters
2+2+ lane2+2+ lane
Scenario 1: Lane 1 closed, 2+ lane opened to all traffic
Operational Issues
5050 50 50
AccidentSlow down
2+ lane sign alerts of end of designation
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹
Ends
2+2+ lane
1m ahead²¹1m ahead²¹²¹
Scenario 1: Lane 1 closed, 2+ lane opened to all traffic
Operational Issues
5050 50
AccidentSlow down
Lane 1 traffic instructed to change lanes. 2+ lane ends.
Ends
2+2+ lane
Ends
2+2+ lane
Scenario 1: Lane 1 closed 2+ lane opened to all traffic
Operational Issues
4040 40
AccidentSlow down
Lane 1 Closed. 2+ lane open to all traffic.
Scenario 1: Lane 1 closed 2+ lane opened to all traffic
Operational Issues
2+2+ lane2+2+ lane
6050 50 50
Congestion
Operational Issues
Issue 1: Should variable speed limits be applied?
2+2+ lane2+2+ lane
Operational Issues
Issue 2: Should slow moving HGVs (and Buses) be banned from lane 3?
Safe roads, Reliable journeys, Informed travellers
Any questions??