Effects of ramp metering and carpool bypass lanes on vehicle occupancy, Sacramento, U.S. Highway 50.

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effectiveness of preferential bus and carpool lanes that bypass freeway on-ramp meters. The time savings was intended to provide an incentive for increased use of carpools, vanpools and public transit. The ramp meter project is located in Sacramento along the Higway 50 corridor between Watt Avenue and Stockton Boulevard. Nine westbound onramps are metered, four of which have bypass lanes.