Person Carrying Capacity

As shown in Figure 42, more people can be moved per hour on an HOV lane than on a conventional lane.  HOV lanes on I-95/I-395 perform more efficiently than conventional SOV lanes because during peak hours, each HOV lane moves 3,800 persons per peak hour compared to the 2,200 persons per hour for each conventional lane. HOV lanes outperform conventional lanes every time, moving 1,600 more people per hour. The I-66 HOV lanes (outside the Beltway) move 900 more people than their conventional counterparts, while the HOV lanes on the Dulles Toll Road handle 600 more commuters than the parallel conventional lanes.

   Figure 42:  Person Carrying Capacity Comparison for 
   HOV and Conventional Lanes, FALL 1999

 

HOV Facility

Persons

Direction

Restricted Hours

A.M. HOV Lane Person Movement*

A.M. Conventional Lane Person Movement

A.M. Persons Pen HOV Lane, Per Hour*

A.M.      Persons Per Conventional Pane, Per Hour

I-395

North of Glebe Road

HOV-3

Northbound

 

6:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

 

22,500

(2 LANES)

26,400

(4 LANES)

3,800

 

2,200

 

I-95

North of Newington

HOV-3

Northbound

 

6:00 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

 

12,200

(2 LANES)

16,500

(4 LANES)

2,000

 

1,400

 

I-66 - Inside Beltway East of I-495; Road only for HOV use

HOV-2

Eastbound

 

6:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

 

15,800

(2 LANES)

N/A

3,200

 

N/A

I-66- Outside Beltway

West of I-495

HOV-2

Eastbound

 

5:30 A.M. - 9:30 A.M.

 

9,100

(1 LANE)

17,100

(3 LANES)

2,300

 

1,400

 

I-267- Dulles Toll Road West of Rt. 7

HOV-2

Southbound

6:30 A.M. - 9:00 A.M.

6,000

(1LANE)

13,600

(3 LANES)

2,400

1,800

 

Source:       1999 Performance of Regional High-Occupancy Vehicle Facilities on Freeways in the Washington Region:

An Analysis of Travel Times. Final Draft. National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board of the Metropolitan

Washington Council of Governments (October 6, 2000).

 [J2]Includes automobiles, vanpools, motorcycles, and buses during the restricted period.  Also includes violators.