Users of Minneapolis I-394 toll express 'selves happy, tolls soon on I-35W lanes

A survey of toll express lanes users on I-394 showing a high level of satisfaction has been released by Minnesota DOT. 91% of those enrolled in the  'MnPASS' branded program expressed satisfaction. 84% agreed that the agreed or strongly agreed that the lanes provided them with "a fast, safe, reliable commute every time."

Satisfied users are self-selecting of course. The dissatisfied tend to go away.

A press release says: "The 35-question online survey targeted current MnPASS customers, 70 percent of whom have held an account for more than three years. Five-hundred customers responded, and the cumulative results showed that MnPASS account holders appreciate the numerous benefits the Express Lanes offer."

Survey participants were also offered $10 in free tolls, which should put them in a favorable frame of mind. Nevertheless 7.2% of users - masochists, moaners? - said in the survey that the express lanes are NOT value for money.

Discriminating use

The survey provides some interesting insights. About half the respondents (51%) say they typically make six or more one-way trips a week on I-394, either trips in the MnPASS toll express lanes, or in the general purpose untolled lanes alongside. But only 18% say they make six or more trips a week in the express lanes.

Almost a half make two or fewer trips per week in the express lanes, the survey suggests, indicating that many users are discriminating because of the cost as to the time they'll take the toll lanes as opposed to the free road alongside.  

Three-quarters (76%) make fewer than six trips per week on the express lanes out of the 10 trips you'd expect them to make on the road if they are 5-day a week commuters.

Most do check the toll rates

71% say they always check the going toll rate on the pricing signs before deciding whether or not to use the express lanes. 22% say they don't always look at the toll rate.

43% say they try to travel earlier or later than the peak hours (and high tolls) to reduce the cost of their trip

An extraordinary proportion of the users surveyed - 70% - have been signed up for more than three years. This could be interpreted as meaning the express lanes have a loyal hardcore of customers. Or that MnPASS has done a lousy job of developing a new clientele after the initial pitch when the facility opened.

Motives for using the express lanes were overlapping notions:

- tired of sitting in  traffic 58%

- convenience 35%

- safer 4%

- the company pays 1%

The notion of free flow travel in return for the toll is well understood by users, 70% saying they that they expect free flow at all times.

Asked what's the best thing about traveling in the express lanes then commonest response (63%) is the commonsense "time savings,"  "less/no traffic" 9%, and 9% "ability to travel faster" which sounds much the same - for a total of 81% for speed.

"Less stress/relaxing" is ticked by 10%, a vague "Ease and convenience" by 7%.  

In this question "safety" is just 1%.

Some concern about 'cut-in' violators

In a question asking about concerns or complaints 22% said "too expensive" and another 22% said "people cutting into lanes" - an apparent reference to motorists moving suddenly into the express lanes in the section separated from general purpose lanes by only pavement striping.

5% say the lanes are "too short."

4% complain about "speeding" by other motorists in the express lanes.

Other complaints are minor.

Safety is rated highly, only 1.4% saying it is "unsafe."

Overall satisfaction of users is 91.2% to 3.6% dissatisfied. A slightly higher proportion (6.4%) disagree that the express lanes provide a "fast, safe, reliable commute every time." But about 84% endorse that sweeping endorsement.

Only about 10% of users take advantage of free carpooling very or extremely often - 70% "not at all" or "not very often."

The I-394 express lane users are strongly supportive of doing similar express lanes on I-35W (73% to 2% against).

see http://www.mnpass.org/

the survey  https://support.mnpass.net/survey/results.php?sid=29

BACKGROUND: The MnPASS branded toll express lanes are free to vehicles with two or more occupants (HOV) or to solo drivers enrolled in MnPASS with a transponder account to pay the tolls.  
The 18km (11 mile) highway is divided into two approximately equal stretches for tolling purposes.

Tolls are reset automatically in direct relationship with continuously measurement of lane occupancy or lane density (vehicles per km). The current toll is displayed on dynamic message signs on approaches to the lanes.

This is a rather more complex form of the differential pricing pioneered in California on the 91 Express Lanes in 1996 and the dynamic pricing introduced on I-15  lanes east of San Diego a couple of years later.

Built in 1992 as HOV or carpool lanes, the I-394 Express Lanes have two segments:

- closest to downtown or at the eastern end there's a 2-lane reversible section 5km (3mi) long and

- to the west a diamond lane section only stripe-separated from general traffic 13km (8mi) long

The I-394 Express Lanes opened to single occupant vehicles for a toll under the brand MnPASS May 16 2005. Wilbur Smith Associates contributed about $2m to the $10m conversion cost, and did much of the toll system and price management design work.

MnPASS is the only toll project in the US to use the ASTMv6 TDMA transponder-reader system developed as a high capability successor to E-ZPass IAG transponders in the mid-1990s - a federal initiative for a national standard that flopped almost totally.

ASTMv6 transponders are used by the PrePass truck clearance project, and for tolling on 407ETR in Canada, and on H6 tollroad in Israel.

MnPASS Express Lanes will also open on I-35W, the major corridor south out of downtown Minneapolis-StPaul later this year.

TOLLROADSnews 2009-08-04