Cofiroute USA is a member of a consortium that was awarded a contract by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) for the conversion of existing HOV lanes to HOT lanes under a public-private partnership.

Description

The MnPASS I-394 segment consists of 22 lane-miles within the existing HOV lane of the I-394 Freeway, west of Minneapolis, MN. The eastern terminus of the toll road is at the I-94 interchange and the western terminus is at Wayzata Blvd. The MnPASS I-35W segment consists of 26 lane-miles within the existing HOV lane of the I-35W Freeway, south of Minneapolis, MN.

The I-394 MnPASS HOT lanes segment consists of one, single-lane HOT section for 8 miles and one, double-lane reversible section for 3 miles entering downtown Minneapolis from the west (see Figure 25). The I-35W segment consists of three sections; a 2.5-mile section of priced, dynamic shoulder lanes, an 8-mile section of converted existing HOV Lanes south of I-494, and a 5-mile section of HOV lanes being constructed in the Crosstown area of I-35W. The MnPass I-394 segment is limited access with entry allowed only in specified areas. There are five tolling points in each direction. The MnPASS I-35W HOT lane segment is open access with entry allowed anywhere along the entire road. There are nine tolling points in each direction.

Toll collection is all-electronic using radio frequency identification (RFID) technology. Each customer’s vehicle is required to have a transponder which is read by the toll collection equipment at the toll plaza. In addition, a timestamp is written to the transponder to facilitate enforcement. Enforcement is accomplished through visual inspection and through the use of a mobile enforcement system which allows the State Patrol to determine whether the customer paid.

History of Cofiroute USA’s Involvement

During 2003, the newly-formed Cofiroute USA competed on two bids for managed lane operations. In Minnesota, Cofiroute USA joined Wilbur Smith Associate (WSA), Raytheon, SRF Consulting, and Frank Wilson & Associates in a consortium to develop the first HOV-to-HOT conversion on I-394 west of Minneapolis. In order to gain the opportunity, the WSA-led consortium contributed $2.0 million of the expected $12.0 million installation costs. Not only was this project the first HOT conversion, but can be viewed as an early form of Public-Private Partnership within the tolling industry.

Cofiroute USA is responsible to provide all day-to-day operations services including CSC staffing, account management, website management, inventory management, support for enforcement and marketing, and Revenue and Account Management System monitoring and maintenance, through its subcontractor VESystems. Cofiroute USA assisted in the development of the dynamic pricing algorithm used to manage congestion and provide for free flow speeds.

The HOT Conversion, branded MnPASS, successfully opened on May 16, 2005. Since its opening, it has received nine regional and international awards for its innovations in technology and operations. The strength of the team and the solution has allowed Mn/DOT to meet all of the goals it had originally set for MnPASS.

Following on these successes, in August 2007, MN/DOT was awarded $133.3 Million for congestion management and transit projects from the USDOT as part of the Urban Partnership Program. The project contains a HOT Lane component on I-35W south of Minneapolis. The team’s MnPASS Operating Contract was amended for a limited time (until March 2010) to include the deployment and operations of the I-35W HOT Lanes. Cofiroute USA is providing support in software development, account management, transponder inventory management and marketing to the team for this implementation. The HOT Lanes are expected to open in September 2009.

In August 2009, Cofiroute USA was selected as the preferred bidder in a rebid of its contract for the operations of the MnPASS customer service center (CSC) to include both I-394 and I-35W MnPASS segments. The contract will run through 2014 and is scheduled to include any further additions to the MnPASS system developed during the contract period.

MnPass Traffic

MnDOT Live Traffic
MnDOT Cameras

For more information please visit visit www.mnpass.net.