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4.0 Geometric and Safety Design

4.4 Lane and Shoulder Widths

Historically, the width of conventional plaza toll lanes, particularly automatic lanes, tend to be narrower than AASHTO compliant freeway lanes. This is done to encourage the driver to slow their vehicle through the toll plaza lanes, thereby minimizing the potential for vehicle and equipment damage while minimizing the lane width available to quickly maneuver the vehicle into position to complete a transaction. However, express lanes must be designed for travel at higher speeds. Furthermore, shoulders for express lanes need to be designed similar to a freeway typical section, for safety and refuge purposes, as well as to minimize capacity loss due to lane blockage.

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Federal Highway Administration - United States Department of Transportation