PATTERNS OF DYNAMIC CARPOOL FORMATION IN THE I-95/I-395 CORRIDOR

Delays resulting from traffic congestion and the availability of facilities that permit travelers to avoid congestion can be powerful tools to modify behavior. High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes are an example of such a tool. The theory behind HOV lanes is that by limiting the use of special roadway lanes to a select class of vehicles-those carrying more than a given number of passengers-the lanes can operate free of congestion even in peak times. Since each vehicle carries multiple passengers, the HOV lanes will sever more persons in an hour than the non-restricted lanes. Further, the benefits to be gained from non-congested travel will induce some commuters to switch from a single or low occupancy vehicle to a high occupancy vehicle. Both actions will contribute to more efficient use of the transportation system. This paper describes the use of HOV lanes on I-95 that serve as a major access route for commuters from Northern Virginia suburbs into Washington D.C.