310 CMR 7.37 Mb High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

• Library: Code of Massachusetts Regulations
• Edition: 2020
• Currency: Current through Register Vol. 1433, December 25, 2020
• Citation: 310 CMR 7.37
• Year: 2020

(1) Definitions. As used in 310 CMR 7.37:

BASELINE ROADWAY CONDITIONS means the average weekday peak hour trip time in minutes for each roadway segment based on monitoring of traffic and recording of trip times during the 12 month period from April 1, 1992 to April 1, 1993.

FEASIBILITY STUDY means a study which analyzes the environmental, operational, engineering, right-of-way construction, and financial issues affecting the implementation of high occupancy vehicle lanes on each roadway segment described in 310 CMR 7.37(3) The analysis of environmental issues shall include the impacts of HOV lanes on all mobile source emissions of CO, VOC and NOX as well as the impacts of such lanes on general purpose traffic flow. Operational issues may include enforcement and public safety issues. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in cases in which feasibility studies submitted to the Department on or before November 1, 1994 have not included an analysis of the impact of HOV lanes on NOx emissions, an analysis of such impacts will be submitted to the Department for inclusion in the Transportation Improvement Program for the metropolitan Boston area, as required by 23 CFR 450.

FINANCIAL as used in 310 CMR 7.37(1) and 7.37(8)(a) means the availability of funds from any federal, state or local sources for the design and construction of a high occupancy vehicle lane or facility.

PERFORMANCE STANDARDS means a level of roadway performance that at a minimum:

1. is equal to or better than a Level of Service C, and

2. will result in average HOV trip times that are at least one minute per mile less than average trip times on adjacent general purpose traffic lanes during peak hours of travel, as defined in 310 CMR 7.37(6)(b)2. Either the MHD or the MTA may propose substitute roadway performance standards which attempt to maximize travel time savings, reductions in emissions of ozone precursors, operational efficiency, and person throughput, and which require vehicle throughput of no less than 400 HOVs per hour for a high occupancy vehicle lane provided that such standard provides for greater improvement in air quality for VOC, CO and NOX in the area where the HOV lane is targeted, in both the short and long term. The Department shall review any proposed substitute roadway performance standard, and shall either reject or accept it within 60 days after it has been submitted to the Department.

ROADWAY THRESHOLD STANDARDS means Baseline Roadway Conditions increased by 35%.

(2) Applicability. 310 CMR 7.37 applies where indicated, to the Executive Office of Transportation and Construction (EOTC), the Massachusetts Highway Department (MHD), and the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (MTA).

(3) Feasibility Studies.

(a) By December 31 1992, the MHD shall submit to the Department a study of the feasibility of establishing high occupancy vehicle lanes for the following roadways 1. The northward extension of the existing southbound high occupancy vehicle lane on Interstate-93, north of the southern bank of the Charles River to I-95; 2. Interstate-93 northbound between the Charles River Crossing and Interstate-95; and 3. Interstate-93 northbound and southbound between Interstate-90 and Route 3 in Braintree.

(b) As part of the environmental review on the Charles River portion of the Central Artery/Tunnel project, the MHD shall complete a study of the feasibility of establishing high occupancy vehicle lanes for the Charles River Crossing. Said study shall be completed within 30 days from the date of the Federal Highway Administration issuance of a Record of Decision in connection with said review.

(c) By June 30, 1994, the MTA shall submit to the Department a study of the feasibility of establishing high occupancy vehicle lanes for Interstate-90 eastbound and westbound between Interstate-93 and Interstate-95. Said study shall include analyses of the feasibility of 1. Implementing full-scale high occupancy vehicle lanes; 2. Implementing a program of special high occupancy vehicle toll booths and full head-of-queue privileges including consideration of establishing specially demarcated lanes leading to high occupancy vehicle toll booths wherever found practical at appropriate turnpike interchanges; and 3. Installing electronic identification systems to facilitate high occupancy vehicle flow through turnpike toll booths.

(4) Implementation of Certain High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes.

(a) If the northward extension of the existing southbound high occupancy vehicle lane on Interstate-93 north of the Charles River is found to be feasible pursuant to the feasibility study to be completed in accordance with 310 CMR 7.37(3)(a) the MHD shall establish the high occupancy vehicle lane and make it available for public use according to a reasonable schedule, as defined in 310 CMR 7.37(4)(d), agreed upon between the Department and the MHD, but in no event later than November 1, 1994. The extension shall be subject to the following conditions:1. The...