Georgia DOT seeking investors for toll lanes on I-20 southeast of Atlanta

Georgia DOT is seeking private sector proposals for adding toll or "managed lanes" along I-20 for 15km (9 miles) in the southeast part of the greater Atlanta area. Sketch level forecasts done for GDOT by C&M Associates suggests toll revenues of around $2m to $3m in the first year and $23m in 2030.

Overall volumes for 2035 are put at 254k daily traffic. The big increases are based on area population growth as projected by the Atlanta Regional Council - 5.26m people in the ten core counties vs 3.43m in 2000, an increase of 1.83m or 53%.

These numbers are contained in a presentation provided to solicit interest.

See here for the presentation.

A base case design by HNTB provides for I-20 to remain its present 2x3 free lanes but for investors to add 2x2 toll lanes that would be managed with variable toll rates for free flow. The segment for which proposals are sought goes from I-285 east to Turner Hill. It represents an evolution from studies for HOV lanes - now eliminated from plans as unfundable. The planning by Arcadis also involved improvements to the I-285 interchange, better provision for weaving via braided ramps, and collector-distributor lanes.

HNTB said although trucks are 18% of traffic truck lanes were not warranted based on preliminary results of a truck lanes study.

There would be direct connections for the toll lanes to I-285 and to two intermediate interchanges at Miller Rd and Klondike Rd, dividing the project into three segments. Toll rates are modeled for the peak hours as the levels needed to maintain reasonably free flow with a minimum toll of 20c/mile (12c/km). In 2010 the minimum 20c/mile is not exceeded but higher tolls kick in as capacity is limited on Segment 3 closest to I-285. By 2030 this segment is estimated to need 76c/mile tolls and by 2050 $1.01/mile.

Maybe the proposers can tailor their proposals to provide extra capacity where the extraordinarily high toll rates based on 2x2 lanes indicate demand for that extra capacity? The market is supposed to provide feedback like this.

A possible extension of the project is westward taking it inside the I-285 "perimeter" a distance of 13km (8 miles) to the I-75/85 in downtown Atlanta, converting the existing HOV lanes there to toll lanes.

GDOT has consultants studying most of the existing corridors for managed lanes. However, oddly, there is no study of any new suburb to suburb links outside the existing I-285, although development has long since jumped far beyond what was originally a peripheral route.

see http://www.dot.state.ga.us/ppi

TOLLROADSnews 2007-08-07