A study on the weekday hov-lane policy on kyoungbu expressway in Korea

HOV-lane policy is well known as a way of alleviating urban traffic problems. The government of Korea is expecting to solve the metropolitan traffic problems in the southern part of the Seoul Metropolitan Area in short period by introducing the HOV-lane policy on a segment of Kyoungbu expressway. This study estimates the effectiveness of the weekday HOV-lane policy. This study analyzes the data collected during both the a.m. and p.m. peak periods. In the study, there are three measures of effectiveness for the HOV lane policy. They include the travel speed on the HOV lane, the movement of passengers, and travel cost including travel time and fuel consumption. The study results are as follows. Firstly, the average travel speed can be increased. Secondly, the total number of passengers can be increased. Finally, the travel cost can be decreased. As a conclusion, the introduction of the weekday HOV-lane policy can be effective as a way of solving metropolitan traffic problems. For the success of the HOV-lane policy, there should be some other measures. They include the expansion of metropolitan bus lines, the improvement of bus operating system, and the improvement of transfer facilities.