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High occupancy vehicle monitoring and evaluation framework

University of British Columbia

This thesis describes a framework for monitoring and evaluating the effectiveness of a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) facility based on a set of quantifiable objectives. The framework is developed specifically to evaluate the effectiveness of the arterial and freeway HOV facilities within the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia. However, it should be applicable to other jurisdictions as well. As a contribution to existing HOV evaluation procedures, the HOV evaluation objectives are categorized into three groups by their relationship to the goals of an HOV program: primary, supporting, and operational. Primary objectives directly relate to the HOV goals of improving the person throughput and encouraging higher occupancy. Characteristics of an HOV facility that contribute to the attainment of the HOV goals are evaluated as supporting evaluation objectives. Attributes that protect the performance of the HOV facility (and therefore its attractiveness to users) are evaluated as operational objectives. Quantifiable measures of effectiveness (MOEs) are selected to determine if an objective is met. The data required to evaluate each of the MOEs is summarized. In addition, a data collection methodology and comprehensive procedures for analyzing and presenting the MOEs are described. To enhance current practices of evaluating HOV facilities, the framework includes a procedure to calculate the statistical reliability and relative uncertainty of the data collected. Finally, a multi-criteria evaluation procedure to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of an HOV facility is presented. Only the quantifiable benefits and costs of an HOV facility are considered in performing a benefit-cost analysis. The framework is applied to evaluate the effectiveness of the HOV facility on the Barnet/Hastings corridor. A multi-criteria evaluation is performed and the results are presented. The objectives of the framework that are considered to be effective include: 'Person Throughput', 'Travel Time Savings', and 'Impact on GP Lanes'. The travel speed standard deviations of the HOV lane are less than the GP lane. However, it was determined that the HOV lane is not providing a statistically significant more reliable trip at the 95% confidence level. The Ministry of Transportation and Highways desired compliance rate of 85% is not presently being attained on the Barnet/Hastings corridor. No public opinion survey data relating to the operation of the HOV facility is available for the application and the safety results are not conclusive. Finally, a preliminary analysis indicated that the HOV facility on the Barnet/Hastings corridor is cost-effective.

Thesis/Dissertation

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2009-05-04

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http://hdl.handle.net/2429/7856

Civil Engineering

University of British Columbia

UBCV

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