Florida Transportation Magazine

Last February, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) started construction on the first phase of an innovative pilot project aimed at easing congestion on one of South Florida’s busiest corridors – Interstate 95.  

For the last few years, FDOT has been studying ways to manage the ever increasing congestion on I-95 in south Florida while minimizing construction time and impacts to residents and motorists. Building on the experience of successful programs in other states, FDOT mapped out a multi-modal, multi-jurisdiction strategy to relieve congestion by addressing both transportation supply and demand. By converting HOV lanes to express lanes, adding additional express capacity, and managing demand through congestion priced tolls, 95 Express offers both an incentive for transit use and carpool formation.  It is also a reliable travel choice for long-distance commuters for whom transit or ride-sharing is not practical.  

The goal of 95 Express is to keep traffic moving at average speed of 45 to 50 mph in the express lanes.  Motorists with a SunPass transponder will be able to use these lanes by paying a toll that varies by the level of congestion.  Tolls will be higher during peak travel times and lower during off-peak times. Toll rates will be displayed on electronic message signs so motorists can choose to use the express lanes or stay in the general travel lanes. Tolls will be collected electronically by an “open road tolling” system – no toll booths and no stopping to pay.

Express lanes tolls will be used to maintain and operate the system and to provide additional support for law enforcement and incident response. Excess revenue will be prioritized by the Miami-Dade and Broward MPOs for additional corridor improvements.

In Phase 1, the HOV lanes are being converted to express lanes. Existing travel lanes are being modified to provide an additional express lane while maintaining the same number of general travel lanes.  Express lanes will be separated from the regular travel lanes by a series of plastic delineators and entry and exit points will be located at the southern and northern ends of the project.

“This project represents a multi-modal, multi-agency approach to congestion  relief  that considers highway and transit users in an entire region and not just one town or county.  This type of collaboration and cooperation between transportation providers is essential to solving the area’s increasingly challenging congestion problems,” Rivera said.

•    The new express lanes are for long distance trips only.•    Once you enter the new express lanes, you cannot exit until the end or cut through the lane markers (delineators).•    If you find yourself in the express lane by accident,  remain calm and ride through to the end.•    If you get confused, do not stop at any time, whether in the general travel lanes or in the express lanes.•    Weaving in and out of the express lanes is illegal.  Drivers who do could cause accidents and will be subject to fines and incur points on their driver’s license.•    Pay attention to all advisories, signs, pavement markings and posted speed limits.