Citation

Courage KG, Culpepper TH, Wallace CE. Transp. Res. Rec. 1978; 682: 94-102.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1978, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

One of the primary control parameters associated with the use of preferential treatments for high-occupancy vehicles, specifically car pools, is the minimum occupancy of automobiles qualified to use the treatment. This parameter varies among the many projects around the nation but is usually between two and four persons per vehicle. The significance of the value used is in terms of the person-moving performance compared with the degree of priority given the high-occupancy vehicles. A priority lane was provided on I-95 in Miami for buses and car pools of three or more persons but, when the person-moving performance failed to meet the desired goal, the minimum car-pool occupancy was reduced to two persons. This unique action had predictable but significant results. The priority advantage previously afforded the high-occupancy vehicles was reduced to a large degree, but the total system effectiveness of the freeway, as well as its safety, were significantly improved. As a result, enforcement and operating problems were reduced and public acceptance was increased.