toll lanes

The Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) in the Phoenix area is looking for consultants to examine the feasibility of toll concessions to fund toll-managed or HOT lanes in the Phoenix metro area.  This follows enabling legislation for public private partnerships.

Commuters to downtown Minneapolis from the south (I-35W) now join those from the west (I-394) in being able to buy the superior service of toll-managed lanes for a continuous commute. Carpoolers and buses get free rides in the free-flowing lanes.

Virginia secretary of transportation Sean Connaughton says I-66 is a "great candidate" for HOT/toll lanes, and he says the department has a team studying the concept. As soon as he was appointed secretary in the summer when the new Republican administration won office he directed the department to look at "HOT" or toll lanes, he says.

A report by Washington DC metro area planners says adding toll lanes to the expressway network, converting HOV lanes and pricing some other lanes would generate nearly sufficient toll revenues to pay for the cost, improve travel times and achieve major reductions in congestion.

A study has found promising toll express lanes on a northwest radial in the Chicago area - reversible lanes on the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94)  and an extra concurrent lane each direction  on the Jane Addams Tollway (I-90).  Concurrent lanes on the Stephenson Expressway (I-55) a southwestern radial from central Chicago do not look good.

The TX/I-635 LBJ Freeway toll lanes has gone to financial close, so - at last - construction can begin. Good news that a very large project, not without its risks, can still be financed in today's economy. It is the first major private sector road financing this year. Construction is due to begin early 2011 for completion by 2016.

TxDOT has announced that a Cintra/Meridiam/Dallas police/fireman's pension system team are the preferred investors in a 52 year toll concession to finance, build, operate and toll "The New LBJ" or I-635 Managed Lanes Project, an expansion to 14 travel lanes from 8 of the major east-west expressway across the northern part of Dallas.Operating under the pro

Texas DOT is signing a toll concession with an international group led by Cintra to do about $1.6 billion worth of work rebuild some 20km (13 miles) of old freeway into frontage, free and toll lanes and get planning work and rights to negotiate up to several billion dollars more of the North Tarrant Express project. TxDOT got bids from the Cintra-led Group called NTE Mobility Partners (NTEMP) and from Spain based OHL.

Florida DOT has chosen a group led by ACS Infrastructure Development (ACSID) for an availability contract to redevelop I-595 in the Fort Lauderdale area with new toll lanes, bus lanes and improved interchanges in a deal that will cost $1,796 million. ACSID will provide the equity under which the group also including another Spain based toll and construction company Dragados and a Florida builder will design, build, finance, operate and maintain the facility for 35 years.

California's legislators left it right up until the deadline but when they finally voted it was with clear majorities to go with tolling on the busiest carpool lanes in the LA area. They get around $210m of federal funds originally reserved for New York City central area pricing. To be tolled under the plan are carpool lanes in the center of the I-10 and the I-110.