This report evaluates the operation of freeway high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in Texas through calendar year 1994. As of the end of 1994, HOV lanes were in operation on the five following Houston freeways: 1) Katy Freeway (I-10W); 2) North Freeway (I 45N); 3) Northwest Freeway (U.S. 290); 4) Gulf Freeway (I-45S); and 5) Southwest Freeway (U.S. 59S). The only HOV facility in operation in Dallas as of the end of 1994 was on the East R.L. Thornton Freeway (I-30E). This research report provides an analysis of data related to the 1) operation of the HOV lanes; 2) operation of the freeway mainlanes; 3) combined HOV lane and freeway data; and 4) data relating to transit usage and operations. Both a "before" and "after" trendline analysis (where applicable) and a comparison to control freeways are used as a means of assessing the impacts of the HOV facilities. As of December 1994, 102.4 kilometers (63.6 miles) of barrier-separated HOV facilities were in operation in Houston, while 8.4 kilometers (5.2 miles) were in operation in Dallas. Approximately 76,000 daily person trips are served on the Houston HOV lane system. Sixty-four percent of total person trips on the Houston HOV lanes are being served by carpools and vanpools, with the remaining 36 percent being served by buses. The East R.L. Thornton HOV lane in Dallas serves approximately 13,000 daily person trips. Sixty-five percent of these trips are being served by carpools and vanpools, with the remaining 35 percent being served by buses

The objective of this research is to investigate the operational effectiveness of the Dallas area HOV lanes. Issues such as person movement, carpool formation, travel time savings, violation rates, safety, and project cost effectiveness are addressed. By understanding the operational performance and issues of both buffer-separated (concurrent flow) HOV lanes and barrier-separated (movable barrier contraflow or fixed barrier reversible flow) HOV lanes, recommendations can be made on suggested HOV lane implementation guidelines for the Dallas area.