The Minnesota Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Council partnered to perform a comprehensive MnPASS Toll Lane System Study. The primary goal was to identify viable options and evaluate the impacts of adding MnPASS Lanes in the Twin Cities Metropolitan area.

MnPASS Toll Lanes are special-use "express" lanes that provide additional capacity. Drivers can pay a toll to use the MnPASS lane to achieve more reliable travel times, or they can choose to use the adjacent non-toll lanes.

MnPASS System Study Final Report – April 7, 2005 (3,559k PDF)

Table of Contents (147k PDF) Executive Summary (1,217k PDF) 1.0 Introduction (115k PDF) 2.0 Corridor Screening (362k PDF) 3.0 Technical Approach and Evaluation Criteria (153k PDF) 4.0 Evaluation of Potential MnPASS Systems 4.0 Part One (1,183k PDF) 4.0 Part Two (942k PDF) 5.0 Potential 2030 MnPASS Vision and Next Steps (235k PDF) Appendix A – Capital Cost Estimates (225k PDF) Appendix B – Details of Travel Demand Estimates (1,097k PDF) Appendix C – Sensitivity Analysis of Cost Recovery Ratio to Discount Rate (66k PDF) Appendix D – Segment Evaluation Summary (95k PDF) MnPASS System Study Steering Committee Policy Report (32k PDF) MnPASS System Study Peer Review (32k PDF)

MnPASS Toll Lane Options

• Corridors where High-Occupancy Vehicle lanes already exist: High occupancy vehicles refer to carpools and other vehicles carrying more than one occupant.
  
  Existing lanes such as the I-394 HOV lanes would convert to High Occupancy Toll or HOT lanes. Single occupancy vehicles would have the opportunity to buy their way onto those toll lanes.
  
  
• Corridors without existing HOV lanes: Additional lanes would be added next to the existing roadway. A toll would be collected on these new lanes.

Such lanes can both generate revenue and manage congestion to achieve maximum efficiency of the highway system.

The study provides information on the cost, operations, revenue, and impacts. The analysis include both an operational and financial assessment of various MnPASS networks in the region.

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Community involvement and input contributes to the success of the I-394 Express Lane project.. The I-394 Express Lane Community Task Force was established to help deliver a project that reflects the needs and values of the corridor and motorists.

The I-394 Express Lane Community Task Force acted as an advisory group to the Commissioner of Transportation on public involvement, communications, community outreach and education. The task force also provided input on other policy issues regarding operations, pricing, access and violations and enforcement.

• Community Task Force Members (pdf)

Community Task Force Final Report October 11, 2004

The report addressed design and operational features the Community Task Force believed would be important to the success of the Express Lane project.

• October Cover Memo to Commissioner Molnau (doc)
• Final Report (doc)
• Appendix 1: Enabling Legislation (doc)
• Appendix 2: Task Force Members (doc)
• Appendix 3: Clarification of Private Partner Role in Partnership Team (doc)
• Appendix 4: Task Force Minority Report, Rep. Jeff Johnson (doc)
• Appendix 5: Focus Group Findings Summary (doc)
• Appendix 6: MnPASS Evaluation Attitudinal Survey Data Requirements (doc)

2004 Community Task Force Meetings

• May 27: Enforcement (ppt) Minutes (doc)
• March 18: February/March Focus Groups (ppt)
• Feb. 19: Project Overview (ppt)
• Oct. 28: Evaluating the Test (ppt) Marketing Plan (ppt) Attitudinal Evaluation (ppt) Minutes (doc)

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California's SR-91 in Anaheim and I-15 in San Diego use systems similar to the I-394 MnPass lanes.

• SR-91 in Anaheim
• I-15 Fastrak in San Diego

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