Global positioning systems data for performance evaluation of HOV and GP lanes on I-66 and I-395/I-95

In this study an empirical analysis is conducted for assessing the performance of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes using Global Positioning System (GPS). Second by second speed, time, and location data were obtained from GPS equipped probe vehicles on HOV lanes with exclusive right of way as well as on HOV lanes that share the right of way with general purpose (GP) lanes. Peak-hour operations of HOV facilities on I-66 and I-395/I-95 corridors in the Washington DC area were used as test beds. Parameters for the performance measures such as travel time, mean journey speed, delay, proportion of stopped time and congestion index were developed and compared for HOV and GP lanes. The data were also used to identify location and the extent of congestion along the study routes. The results of the analysis showed travel times saving, higher journey speeds, less delay, and lower congestion incurred by the probe vehicles on the HOV lanes as compared to the probe vehicles traveling simultaneously on non-HOV lanes