I-35E MnPASS Extension Community Outreach and Education Study (SP# 6281-46)

Project summary:

This research studied the feasibility of extending the MnPASS Express Lanes on I-35E between Little Canada Road and County Road 96 in the northeastern part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. During peak rush hour periods, MnPASS Express Lanes provide a congestion-free option to transit vehicles, carpools, and motorcycles, as well as single-occupant vehicles for a fee. The research was funded by a Value Pricing Pilot Program grant from the Federal Highway Administration. This was a pre-implementation planning study designed to develop and evaluate conceptual alternatives for extending MnPASS Express Lanes between Little Canada Road and County Road 96 on I-35E and to identify and evaluate methods for improving bus transit and carpool use in the MnPASS lanes on I-35E. The research sought to explore and analyze a number of scenarios to provide a higher level of service for all I-35E corridor users: those using the general purpose traffic lanes, those using the MnPASS Express Lanes, and those using transit. The goal for the project was to achieve greater efficiency in the corridor through better use of existing infrastructure and to optimize highway system performance and customer service through supportive land-use planning for transit and bike/pedestrian traffic. The study engaged community stakeholders and corridor users to analyze the design, operations, benefits, costs, and public acceptability of each conceptual alternative. The study also engaged community stakeholders in identifying and evaluating additional transit enhancements that could increase transit and carpool use in the I-35E MnPASS Express Lanes.