[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 211 (Tuesday, November 3, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 56916-56918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-26404]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Highway Administration

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA-2009-0107]


Express Lanes Demonstration Program--Performance Goals for the 
Florida Department of Transportation I-595 Express Lanes Project

AGENCY: Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: Section 1604(b)(7) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, 
Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) 
(Pub. L. 109-59; Aug. 10, 2005), authorizes the Secretary of 
Transportation (Secretary) to develop and publish performance goals for 
each express lane project accepted under the Express Lanes 
Demonstration Program. This notice lists the Performance Goals, 
Monitoring and Reporting Program requirements for the I-595 Express 
Lanes project in Fort Lauderdale, in Broward County, in the State of 
Florida.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 3, 2009.

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver comments to: Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., Washington, DC 20590, or submit electronically at http://www.regulations.gov, or fax comments to (202) 493-2251.
    All comments should include the docket number that appears in the 
heading of this document. All comments received will be available for 
examination and copying at the above address from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 
e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. Those desiring 
notification of receipt of comments must include a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard or may print the acknowledgment page that appears 
after submitting comments electronically. Anyone is able to search the 
electronic form of all comments in any one of our dockets by the name 
of the individual submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if 
submitted on behalf of an association, business, or labor union). You 
may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (Volume 65, Number 70, Pages 
19477-78), or you may visit http://DocketsInfo.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For questions about this notice, 
contact Mr. Wayne Berman, Office of Operations, (202) 366-4069, 
([email protected]); for legal questions contact Mr. Michael 
Harkins, Attorney Advisor, Office of the Chief Counsel, (202) 366-4928, 
([email protected]). The FHWA is located at 1200 New Jersey 
Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. Office hours are from 7:45 a.m. to 
4:15 p.m., e.t., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Electronic Access

    An electronic copy of this document may be downloaded from the 
Federal Register's home page at: http://www.archives.gov and the 
Government Printing Office's database at: http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara.

Background

    Section 1604(b) of SAFETEA-LU, established the Express Lanes 
Demonstration Program (ELDP). Under the ELDP, the Secretary must carry 
out 15 demonstration projects during the period of fiscal years 2005 
through 2009 to permit States to collect a toll from motor vehicles at 
eligible facilities. On June 11, 2009, the Florida Department of 
Transportation (FDOT) submitted applications to the FHWA for tolling 
authority under the ELDP for the I-595 Express Lanes project in the 
Fort Lauderdale region of Broward County. After review and analysis, 
the application was approved on July 1, 2009.
    The I-595 Express Lanes will consist of three reversible tolled 
lanes in the median of I-595 in Broward County, Florida. There are four 
proposed exchange points within the limits of the I-595 Express Lanes 
(approximately 10.5 miles in length). The western ingress/egress point 
is proposed west of Flamingo Road, serving I-75 and Sawgrass 
Expressway. The eastern location is proposed between Florida's Turnpike 
and US 441, serving points east of US 441 including I-95. The southern 
location is proposed along Florida's Turnpike between I-595 and Griffin 
Road. Finally, the northern location is proposed along Florida's 
Turnpike between Peters Road and I-595. The eastbound and westbound I-
595 general purpose lanes will remain toll-free.
    Pursuant to section 1604(b)(7) of SAFETEA-LU, the Secretary, in 
cooperation with the State, public authority, private entity, and other 
program participants must develop performance goals for each project 
and

[[Page 56917]]

publish such goals for public comment. This notice lists, and solicits 
public comment on, the Performance Goals, Monitoring and Reporting 
Programs for the I-595 Express Lanes Project.

Performance Goals, Monitoring and Reporting Program

    The following describes the agreed upon ELDP's Performance Goals, 
Monitoring and Reporting Program for the I-595 Express Lanes Project. 
This program has been developed cooperatively between FDOT and FHWA.

Performance Goals, Monitoring and Reporting Program

Section 1: Performance Goals
    The FHWA and FDOT have identified the following performance goals 
(``Performance Goals'') for the I-595 Express Lanes. These Performance 
Goals reflect the priorities for the I-595 Express Lanes at the State 
and local levels. The Performance Goals also reflect the goals set 
forth for the ELDP in Section 1604(b) of SAFETEA-LU.
    I. Effects on travel, traffic, and air quality.
    II. Balance distribution of benefits and burdens among facility 
users.
    III. Introduce and increase use of alternative transportation 
modes.
    IV. Use of revenues to meet transportation or impact mitigation 
needs.
Section 2: Measuring, Monitoring and Reporting on Achievement of 
Performance Goals
Section 2.1: Performance Measures
    The following core performance measures (``Core Performance 
Measures'') will be utilized to focus the monitoring and reporting work 
undertaken to evaluate performance of the I-595 Express Lanes. The one 
or more Performance Goals to which each Core Performance Measure 
corresponds are indicated in parenthesis. Specific reporting items for 
each Core Performance Measure are listed below.
    Generally, Express Lane performance will be assessed by reference 
to baseline values or trends for the reported items under the Core 
Performance Measures. The methodology for determining each baseline 
value or trend will be explained in detail in the Performance 
Monitoring and Evaluation Manual described below.
A. Travel-Time Reliability in I-595 Express Lanes vs. General Purpose 
Lanes (I, II, III)
    i. Report percentage of time that the I-595 Express Lanes are 
operating at a minimum average speed of 50 miles per hour, broken down 
into daily averages for the a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak periods.
    ii. Report 95th percentile travel times for the I-595 Express Lanes 
and general purpose lanes, broken down into daily averages for the a.m. 
peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak periods. This measure is reported in 
minutes. (The 95th percentile represents the slowest traffic day each 
month).
    iii. Report the Buffer Index calculated to demonstrate performance 
in the I-595 Express Lanes and general purpose lanes, broken down into 
daily averages for the a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak periods. (The 
Buffer Index is the extra time that travelers must add to their average 
travel time when planning trips to ensure on-time arrival. For example, 
a buffer index of 40 percent means that for a trip that usually takes 
20 minutes a traveler should budget an additional 8 minutes to ensure 
on-time arrival. The 8 extra minutes is called the buffer time. 
Therefore, the traveler should allow 28 minutes for the trip in order 
to ensure on-time arrival 95 percent of the time.)
    iv. Report traffic volumes and traffic volume changes on a total 
and percentage-change basis annually, broken into daily averages, for 
daily total, by a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak for the I-595 
Express Lanes and general purpose lanes by direction.
    v. Report traffic speeds and traffic speed differences from the 
previous year (on a total and percentage-change basis) annually, broken 
into daily averages, for daily total, by a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. 
peak for the I-595 Express Lanes and general purpose lanes by 
direction.
    vi. Report actual number of incidents and identify the effect on 
lane availability for the I-595 Express Lanes during this time, 
including the length of time each such lane was unavailable.
B. Changes in Mode Split/Ridership/Vehicle Occupancies of I-595 Express 
Lanes vs. General Purpose Lanes (I, II, III)
    i. Report volumes by vehicle type for the year and the differences 
from the previous year (on a total and percentage-change basis), broken 
into daily averages, by a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak for the I-
595 Express Lanes and the general purpose lanes, as applicable and 
reasonably available. Express Lane vehicle classifications are: 
registered carpools, registered buses, registered Inherently Low 
Emissions Vehicles (ILEV) and hybrid vehicles (as defined in Section 
316.0741 Florida Statutes), registered vanpools, and toll-paying 
customers.
    ii. Report average toll charged for the year and differences from 
the previous year (on a total and percentage-change basis), by vehicle 
type, broken into daily averages, by a.m. peak, off-peak, and p.m. peak 
for the I-595 Express Lanes.
    iii. If reasonably available, report on the amount of vehicle miles 
traveled by vehicle type for the year and differences from the previous 
year (on a total and percentage-change basis). I-595 Express Lanes 
vehicle classifications are: registered carpools, registered buses, 
registered ILEV and hybrid vehicles (as defined in Section 316.0741 
Florida Statutes), registered vanpools, and toll-paying customers.
C. Transit Schedule Adherence on the I-595 Express Lanes (II, III)
    To the extent the information is reasonably available, report on 
express transit service reliability (percentage of on-time performance 
of transit service) on express bus transit routes utilizing the I-595 
Express Lanes. When reporting on the express bus routes, measurements 
of ridership, travel time, and reliability should be included.
D. Application of Toll Revenue Reinvestment (II, IV)
    Report breakdown of the use of revenues.
E. Change in Criteria Pollutant Emissions for the Region (I)
    Report on the concentrations of six criteria pollutants (particle 
pollution, ground level ozone, carbon monoxide, sulfur oxides, nitrogen 
oxides, and lead) during the current year and differences from the 
previous year (on a total and percentage-change basis) utilizing 
reasonably available and reliable air quality information gathered by 
Broward County.
Section 2.2. Monitoring and Reporting Program
    Prior to commencement of pricing operations on the I-595 Express 
Lanes, FDOT will prepare a Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Manual 
document that will describe the information to be collected, the 
methodology for identifying baseline values, and approach for 
developing the annual reports that assess Express Lane performance. The 
manual will serve as a tool to facilitate achievement of the 
Performance Goals identified in Section E(6) by documenting the program 
for regular monitoring and reporting to be utilized in the assessment 
of the Core Performance Measures identified in this Section E(7).
    The Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Manual will be in the 
form

[[Page 56918]]

of an instruction manual and should address the following subject 
areas.

A. Project Overview
B. Purpose and Need
C. Organization of Document
D. Overview of Project Goals
E. Overview of Core Performance Measures
    i. Key Questions and definition of Core Performance Measures
    ii. Description of how specific reported information relates to 
Core performance Measures and Performance Goals
F. Methodology for Determining Baseline Measurements
G. Annual Monitoring Program Measurement Processes and Procedures
H. Coordination with other Transportation Providers
I. Reference Documentation Listing (as applicable)

    The annual monitoring and reporting program measurement processes 
and procedures will be documented in the Monitoring and Reporting 
Annual Report that should include the following sections.

A. Project Information
B. Performance Highlights
C. Performance Summary
D. Performance Details
Section 2.3. Timeline and Process for Submission of ELDP Monitoring 
Report
    The annual reporting period for the ELDP is between January 1 and 
December 31 of each year. Data collected and reported will align with 
this time period. The first year's data after tolling commences will be 
data collected from the date of service commencement to December 31 of 
that year. FDOT's submission to FHWA of the Monitoring and Reporting 
Annual Report will occur no later than March 31 of each year.

    Authority: Section 1604(b)(7) of the Safe, Accountable, 
Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users 
(SAFETEA-LU) (Pub. L. 109-59; Aug. 10, 2005).

    Issued on: October 23, 2009.
Victor M. Mendez,
Federal Highway Administrator.
[FR Doc. E9-26404 Filed 11-2-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-22-P