6.0 Summary of Recommendations

6.2.3 Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) Express Lanes

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 1
Title	ETC Express Lane Count
Text	New express lane plaza design and construction should include the number of express lanes equal to the number of approach roadway lanes, including provisions for widening if the approach roadway is configured for future widening.
Commentary	This provision assures that a given toll plaza will never require future modifications or lane conversions to meet customer demand for non-stop lanes. This design guideline is important for several reasons: The appearance of a wide-open path “through the plaza” is a very effective marketing tool Once constructed, future changes are not required to accommodate higher ETC demand at the toll facilities, assuming the mainline is not widened. This eliminates additional express lane design and construction along with the risk of reduced revenue resulting from delays caused by reconstruction. This guideline applies to full express lane plazas in new construction or re-construction.

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 2
Title	ETC Express Lane Orientation
Text	Express lanes should be oriented to the left, as a continuation of the mainline approach pavement.
Commentary	Express Lanes should appear to the driver as a simple continuation of the mainline through the tolling zone or point, not requiring any change in driving pattern.

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 3
Title	ETC Express Lane Separation of Traffic
Text	Express lanes should be protected and separated from conventional plaza traffic according to the expressway design criteria applied on the approach and departure roadways.
Commentary	Express Lanes should appear to the driver as a simple continuation of the mainline lanes, not requiring any change in driving pattern.

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 4
Title	ETC Express Lane Utilization Restrictions
Text	Express lanes should not restrict usage by particular vehicle types, such as “cars only,” or “trucks only,” beyond those restrictions in force on the approach and departure roadway or the roadway facility in general.
Commentary	Express Lanes should appear to the driver as a simple continuation of the toll facility, not requiring any change in driving pattern. An exception is a single lane express lane, which should prohibit truck usage because the operational performance of trucks tends to cause delays and safety concerns when mixed in the same lane with passenger cars

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 5
Title	ETC Express Lane Roadway Geometry
Text	Express lanes should be designed meeting the same geometric requirements for grades, cross-slopes, clearances and clear zones, stopping sight distance and horizontal and vertical curvature, as is applied to the proximate approach and departure roadways.
Commentary	Express Lanes should appear to the driver as a simple continuation of the toll facility, not requiring any change in driving pattern.

Guideline	ETC Express Lane Guideline 6
Title	ETC Express Lane Posted Speeds
Text	Express lane posted speed should not deviate from the posted speed on the interconnecting mainline.
Commentary	Express Lanes should appear to the driver as a simple continuation of the mainline, not requiring any change in driving pattern.

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