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The
Mineta Transportation Institute) at San José State University conducted
this study to review the issues and implications
involved in the project in question. Twenty-four potential HOV facility
user groups were identified. Through a ranking
process, seven of these groups were selected for further study in phase
one. The project team made the following preliminary
conclusions as to the suitability of each group to use HOV facilities and
recommended whether each group should be included
in the phase two study to refine these findings and develop implementation
strategies.
1.
As the result of 1998 legislation, which includes sunset provisions,
electric vehicles and other ILEVs, ULEVs, and SULEVs have
recently been included in users of HOV facilities. This legislation should
be reviewed in phase two to determine if the sunset provisions
should be extended.
2.
The identified negatives for including light delivery trucks outweigh any
identified positives. Unless new evidence surfaces, this group
should be dropped from the study.
3.
Radio dispatched vehicles are strong candidates, inclusion should result in
improved public transportation services. Phase two study
of possible enabling legislation should consider sunset provisions to
encourage future fleet conversion to vehicles using alternative
fuels.
4.
Inclusion of EPA certified high mileage vehicles and vehicles using
alternative fuels could encourage use of these vehicles with beneficial
impacts on air quality and fuel consumption. Possible significant problems
of capacity, identification of users, and police
monitoring and enforcement should be studied in phase two.
5.
Deadheading transit and charter buses appear to be worthy candidates and
should be studied further. School buses, because of inherent
problems, should not be considered unless significant warrants surface.
6.
There does not appear to be any advantage in including light service trucks
(utility, maintenance, etc.).
7. There is no compelling
reason to change existing conditions regarding enforcement and emergency
vehicles.
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