Electronic toll collection and safety at the Holland Tunnel

The Port Authority of New York and New jersey (PANYNJ) proposed implementation of Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) at the Holland Tunnel in New Jersey. The study objective was to determine if hazard or risk associated with crossing maneuvers on the Twelfth Street approach and on the adjacent Marin Boulevard approach would change with the introduction of ETC-dedicated toll lanes. A quantitative assessment of the conflicts was made by developing a probability based conflict analysis, Vehicle conflicts or the desire by two vehicles to occupy the same space at the same time was selected as a surrogate measure to evaluate vehicular operation at the toll plaza due to the introduction of ETC lanes. The probability based conflict model compared alternative ETC strategies with the base condition and then statistically tested whether or not the increase was significant. The factors that determined the point where the conflict may occur were identified as toll lane type, vehicle deceleration rates, final velocity, the number of toll lanes and volume of cross traffic between the lanes. The model results indicated that as the ETC lane usage increased, the conflict potential would decrease or remain the same indicating a higher Likelihood of "more organized" traffic flow through the toll plaza. It was concluded that the various Holland Tunnel toll plaza ETC deployment alternatives would not adversely effect the level of current operations.