This paper explores the conditions under which investment in truck-only lanes on rural interstate highways could be considered and what sorts of benefits may accrue to both occupants of passenger vehicles and to operators of heavy trucks. The authors examine the available evidence regarding the nature and magnitude of these benefits to gain insight into the willingness of highway users to pay for these lanes. Findings indicate that the willingness to pay for truck-only lanes on the part of occupants of passenger vehicles appear to be quite limited and that support for these lanes by trucking firms is likely to depend upon their being allowed to operate longer-combination vehicles (LCVs) on them. Since these lanes would be too expensive to be funded through traditional sources, trucking firms could be assessed tolls to travel in truck-only lanes, with these tolls representing some fraction of the increased productivity gained through being allowed to operate LCVs. For each potential truck-only lane project, it would be necessary to conduct a detailed feasibility analysis that takes into account current traffic characteristics, the potential for productivity gains, possible toll levels, connectivity of LCV facilities and cost of adding the lanes.
Abstract