Priced managed lanes are a proven concept which we see moving beyond standalone facilities to the development of coordinated regional systems.
San Diego, CA (PRWEB) November 15, 2013
New express lanes are being planned throughout California to increase mobility and provide options to the traveling public. California already leads the movement toward adoption of express lanes, also known as priced managed lanes, as a solution to urban congestion. In fact, of the nearly 2,800 miles of high-occupancy vehicle lanes being converted to express lanes in the United States, more than half are located in this state.
HNTB Corporation’s nationally recognized transportation expert Andrew Smith, AICP, vice president and director of planning and policy services, will be a featured panelist on Nov. 18 at the 24th Annual Focus on the Future Conference hosted by the Self-Help Counties Coalition, where he will take part in an informative panel discussion on managed lanes.
Smith will join industry leaders to address how the adoption of express lanes can be a viable solution to urban congestion and provide expanded mobility and options to travelers.
With the successful implementation of priced managed lanes in 14 other U.S. cities, Smith’s presentation will discuss the growing popularity of managed lanes in California and their evolution across the country from corridors to network systems. “Many local and state governments are eager to embrace priced managed lanes,” said Smith. ”They are a proven concept which we see moving beyond standalone facilities to the development of coordinated regional systems.”
With nearly 20 years of experience in long-range transportation planning, transportation demand management, financial feasibility studies and traffic engineering, Smith participates in technical advisory and project management roles on complex planning projects across the United States and his insights are regularly requested by the transportation industry and media.
HNTB’s nationally recognized tolling experts from around the country, including Jim Ely, DPA, senior vice president and chairman toll services, Matthew Click, AICP, vice president and director priced managed lanes, and Gregory Le Frois, PE, vice president and director of toll facilities group, also will attend the conference to share their breadth of tolling expertise. As the nation’s No. 1 consultant to toll authorities, HNTB has been a toll leader since 1945 when the firm became engineering consultant to the Maine Turnpike, the first of the modern turnpikes financed entirely with private funds. In California, the firm implemented the world’s first HOT lane on State Route 91 in Orange County, with the first all-electronic collection system.
The Focus on the Future conference provides a forum for self-help counties and other transportation agencies, elected officials and the private sector to share experiences, highlight upcoming projects and interact in a relaxed environment. It continues to be the premier transportation conference in California drawing more than 650 people annually.
About Self-Help Counties Coalition
The Self-Help Counties Coalition is the organization of 20 local county transportation agencies delivering super majority voter-approved transportation sales tax measures throughout California. SHCC works closely with the California Transportation Commission, the California Department of Transportation and elected officials, as well as other public and private sector interests. The coalition is dedicated to ensuring sound public policy so that the state can meet its transportation infrastructure needs.
About HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and construction contractors. With nearly a century of service in the U.S., HNTB’s work in California dates back to its founding in 1914. Today HNTB continues to grow in size and service offerings to clients in California from nine office locations, currently employing more than 350 full-time professionals. HNTB understands the life cycle of infrastructure and addresses clients’ most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide deliver a full range of infrastructure-related services, including award-winning planning, design, program delivery and construction management. For more information, visit http://www.hntb.com.