High occupancy/toll lanes (HOT lanes) is a road pricing scheme that gives motorists in single-occupant vehicles access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes (or "HOV lanes"). Sometimes, entire roads are designated for the use of HOVs. Tolls are collected either by manned toll booths, automatic number plate recognition, or electronic toll collection systems. Typically, these tolls increase as traffic density and congestion within the tolled lanes increases, a policy known as congestion pricing. The goal of this pricing scheme is to minimize traffic congestion within the lanes.[1][2]
Express toll lanes (ETLs) is a similar concept. The main difference between HOT and ETLs is that, in HOT lanes, HOVs are granted free access, whereas in ETLs all vehicles pay according to the same schedule. In a third type, called hybrid lanes, HOVs pay a reduced toll.[3]
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HOT lanes and ETLs require single-occupant vehicles to pay a toll that varies based on demand, called congestion pricing. The tolls change throughout the day according to real-time traffic conditions, which is intended to manage the number of cars in the lanes to keep them less congested.[4][5]
The HOT lanes concept is an expansion of HOV lanes that allows single-occupant vehicles to also use the lanes, by paying a toll and thus generating a profit. Proponents claim that all motorists will benefit from HOT lanes, even those who choose not to use them. This argument only applies to projects that increase the total number of lanes.[6] Proponents also claim that HOT lanes provide an incentive to use transit and ride sharing.
Because HOT lanes and ETLs are often constructed within the existing road space, they are criticized as being an environmental tax or perk for the rich ("Lexus lanes"). Those who criticize the concepts claim that the lanes provide congestion relief to the motorists of a higher socioeconomic class. With HOT and hybrid lanes, the attempt to address this criticism typically consists of special treatment for HOVs. Personal vehicles carrying more than a specified amount of passengers (typically two or three) are permitted to use the HOV lanes at a reduced toll (hybrid lanes) or for free (HOT lanes). Additionally, public transit vehicles are typically exempted from the toll. A counter-argument is that the rich often already have ways to ease their commute that are not available to the poor, such as buying a home closer to where they work.[7]
No existing highways are 100% ETL, but there are several HOT and hybrid systems. The only fully ETL roadway in design/construction is in Maryland, along the John F. Kennedy Memorial Highway (Interstate 95) as it travels through Baltimore and Baltimore County. The project will add two express toll lanes in each direction, supplementing the existing four general purpose lanes in each direction.
Planning for the project took place as part of an I-95 master plan process conducted by the Maryland Transportation Authority. Construction on the I-95 project began in 2006 and is expected to conclude in 2011. The state of Maryland has 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.[8]
Implementation of these systems can be prohibitively expensive, due to the initial construction required – particularly with regard to providing access to and from the express toll lanes at interchanges. However, the long-term benefits – the decrease in delay to motorists and increased funding for the transportation agency – may outweigh the costs. To offset costs of construction, many transportation agencies lease public roads to a private institution. As a result, construction may be partially or fully funded by the private institution, who receives all of the income from tolling for a specified period of time.[6][9]