Abstract
As traffic congestion continues to worsen in urban areas, policymakers are seeking innovative solutions to maximize existing road infrastructure and improve travel times. High-occupancy-toll (HOT) lanes offer a promising solution by allowing single-occupancy vehicles (SOVs) to use underutilized carpool lanes for a fee, reducing congestion in regular lanes. Current pricing methods often struggle to set the right toll in real-time, leading to HOT lanes that are either underused or too congested. This reduces their effectiveness in managing traffic and can frustrate drivers. To address this issue, UC Irvine researchers developed more effective ways to set HOT lane prices in real-time, ensuring they are used efficiently and provide reliable travel times for all drivers. Improving HOT lane operation can lead to reduced congestion, shorter commute times, and more efficient use of existing road infrastructure – all without the need for costly new road construction.
