What are Managed Lanes?
With managed lanes a freeway would have two types of lanes as shown below. There would be toll free lanes - but they may be congested. There would also be new managed lanes added to the freeway – where a toll would be charged but those lanes would not be congested. The toll would be collected electronically so there would be no toll booths. There might also be toll discounts or free travel in the managed lanes for carpools and buses.
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High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are one example of a managed lane. Only travelers in multi-occupant vehicles (carpoolers, vanpoolers, and transit riders) are allowed to use the HOV lane. Another example of a managed lane is when you allow single occupant vehicles to use the HOV lane for a toll. These are known as High Occupancy/Toll (HOT) lanes. To keep the lane moving quickly, and not become congested with toll paying single occupant vehicles, the toll might change. For example, when the HOV lane is getting full the toll would go up. This is known as variable pricing and it helps to regulate the demand for the lanes so they don't become congested.
TxDOT is looking at using managed lanes to (1) fully utilize the roadway (2) provide a high speed travel alternative to congested main lanes and (3) help pay for the construction of new lanes sooner. Given the prospect of funding shortfalls any added lanes TxDOT considers are being evaluated for tolling.