2011-049 Council Resolution - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Bus -Only Shoulders (BOS) allow buses to use the roadway shoulder to bypass automobiles that are in the general flow of traffic. They may only be used when the speed in the regular lanes drops to 30 mph or lower. BOS shoulders are useful in those areas where there is chronic peak period congestion and increase the attractiveness of peak hour express buses by allowing express buses to maintain a minimum speed through congested areas. Bus -only shoulders in both directions have been established on I -35W from 95th Avenue south to Minneapolis. The Route 250 express buses operated by Metro Transit to downtown Minneapolis utilize these bus -only shoulders. • Bus -only shoulders have been established on I -35E from TH 36 to downtown St Paul. Routes 255 and 2754 operated by First Student, utilizes these BOS lanes. High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes are roadway lanes reserved for cars with 2 or more people, motorcycles and transit vehicles. They provide a travel time incentive for people willing to carpool or use transit. At present, there are no HOV lanes in Lino Lakes or on routes to either downtown. Transit Programs This section is a description of existing transit programs in the City of Lino Lakes. Ride Matching Services Lino Lakes residents are eligible to participate in the regional car pool matching database managed by the Met Council. Carpool participants qualify for the regional guaranteed ride home program; may use High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and meter bypass ramps; receive parking discounts in some circumstances; may participate in occasional promotional benefits. Van -Go Lino Lakes residents are also eligible to participate in the Van -GO! program, a regional vanpool program sponsored by the Metropolitan Council. Van -GO! vanpools are made up of 5 to 15 commuters picked up along the vanpool route or at an agreed upon location. Like buses and carpools, vanpools are eligible to use meter bypass lanes or ramps and HOV lanes. Travel Demand Management Travel Demand Management (TDM) services include programs that promote and support any alternative to commuting via single- occupant vehicle. It may include ride - matching, car -pool and van -pool services as previously described, both covers many other options as well. Transit promotions, employer - subsidized bus passes, flexible work hours, and telecommuting are just some of the possible strategies to reduce SOV use. Metro Transit provides a regional service through its Metro Commuter Services group, and four local Transportation Management Organizations provide further support and services, including two downtown organizations. The City and employers may use these services and programs free of charge in order to benefit employee' travel arrangements and budgets. Future Transit Demand According to the 2005 Metropolitan Council's Park - and -Ride Plan, the number of people in Lino Lakes currently utilizing transit to commute to work in downtown Minneapolis /St. Paul is expected to increase through 2030. Although the percentage of the Lino Lakes resident workforce utilizing transit services within the city is relatively small compared to future population projections, there are other park- and -ride facilities outside of city limits that may also draw a small portion of the Lino Lakes commuter workforce because of the higher bus frequencies and routes along with a greater number of downtown express buses they offer. 6 -44