COMBINING BUS RAPID TRANSIT AND CONGESTION PRICING TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY, CONTROL COSTS, INCREASE UTILIZATION, AND REDUCE CONGESTION FOR URBAN HIGHWAY TRAVEL.

LEE MUNNICH - HUBERT H HUMPHREY INSTITUTE, STATE AND LOCAL POLICY PROGRAM
130 HUMPHREY CENTER
19TH AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455
612-625-7357/612-626-9833
LMUNNICH@HHH.UMN.EDU


STEPHEN ULRICH - HUBERT H HUMPHREY INSTITUTE, STATE AND LOCAL POLICY PROGRAM
130 HUMPHREY CENTER
19TH AVENUE SOUTH
MINNEAPOLIS, MN 55455
612-626-9833
SULRICH@HHH.UMN.EDU

In October 2004, SLPP convened an expert roundtable for a discussion of the merits of combining Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) with congestion pricing strategies, particularly High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes.  People with experience working on projects were invited from across the country to present and discuss the methodologies they used, as well as the costs and benefits they realized.  

The dual challenges of managing congestion and financing transportation improvements has led to innovative approaches in such cities as San Diego, California and Houston, Texas.  This approach uses high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes as express lanes for bus rapid transit, offering a congestion-free alternative for both drivers and bus riders.  In April 2005, Minnesota will open its first HOT lane on I-394 as part of a future MnPass system for the Twin Cities.  A MnPass system study is also underway to explore larger and longer-term strategies to address congestion and capacity in the region.  At the same time a  bus rapid transit plan is being pursued as a cost-effective approach, in combination with the light rail transit (LRT) and commuter rail, to create viable transit alternatives for Twin Cities commuters.  Explanations of how BRT and road pricing can be combined as a win-win-win for transit users, drivers, and taxpayers are presented to articulate the potential for combining BRT with MnPass in Minnesota.