Express toll lane

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Express toll lanes (ETL) refer to a type of road pricing system where motorists may pay a toll to gain access to lanes which are separated from the mainstream traffic. Typically, these tolls will increase as traffic density within the tolled lanes also increases. This pricing scheme limits the traffic demand within the lanes, ultimately resulting in lanes which can travel freely despite the congestion in the mainstream travel lanes.

Implementation of these systems can be prohibitively expensive due to the initial construction required -- particularly with regards to providing access to and from the Express Toll Lanes at interchanges. However, the long-term benefits may outweigh the costs due to the decrease in delay to motorists and the simultaneous increased in available funding for the transportation agency. To offset the costs, many transportation industries consider leasing the roads to a private institution. As a result, construction may be partially or fully funded by the private institution, but they will also receive all or some of the income from tolling for a specified period of time.

Among the largest criticisms of Express Toll Lanes is that they provide congestion relief to the motorists of a higher socioeconomic class, giving rise to the phrase "Lexus Lanes". Attempts to address this criticism typically consists of special treatment for high-occupancy vehicles. Personal vehicles carrying more than a specified amount of passengers (typically two or more) may use the express lanes at a reduced or no toll. Additionally, public transit vehicles are typically exempted from the toll; and the transit fare may also be waived -- resulting in free transportation along the route. Such exceptions, however, are typically referred to as High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, rather than ETL.

At this time, there are no existing highways that are 100% ETL. There are several similar arrangements that make use of ETL during peak hours, but revert to HOT lanes during off-peak hours. The only fully-ETL area currently in design/construction is in Maryland, along the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (Interstate 95) as it travels through Baltimore City, Maryland and Baltimore County, Maryland. The project will consist of the addition of two express toll lanes in each direction, in addition to the existing four general purpose lanes in each direction along the first 10-mile sestion of the Kennedy Memorial Highway (I-95).

Planning for this project commenced as part of I-95 Master Plan process conducted by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Construction on the I-95 ETL project began in the Spring of 2006, and is expected to conclude during 2011. The State of Maryland has also indicated its interest in exploring the addition of ETLs to other state highways, on a case-by-case basis. Other roadways currently being studied include I-270 and the Capital Beltway.