PROJECT STORY
The challenge
Reduce the environmental impact of vehicle traffic on the highway
The highway A48
The first dynamic HOV lane on the highway in France
The solution
Design and implement the first dynamic HOV lane on a highway in France
The impact
Encourage cleaner driving practices to reduce traffic congestion
8 km
The length of the HOV lane on the A48
10 minutes
How much time drivers save on this road
1st
Dynamic HOV lane on the highway in France
The approach to Grenoble via highway A48 is often jammed. The number of drivers alone in their cars increases this congestion, but also the amount of exhaust emissions.
To encourage cleaner driving practices, highway manager AREA has decided to take action. Since September 2020, an HOV lane has been established on an 8 km stretch of the A48 between Voreppe and St-Égrève. This solution is only for use in the event of traffic jams and should save 10 minutes for drivers who utilize it.
The HOV lane is first and foremost a smart highway lane, which can be changed according to traffic.
To establish this special lane and ensure compliance with the traffic rules in force, the APRR group called on Arcadis. First, it designed a system capable of reserving a lane for carpooling drivers. Dedicated signage has been installed: when a traffic jam occurs, the lane displays a white diamond. It then becomes limited to 50 km/h and reserved for carpooling vehicles, non-polluting vehicles (Crit’air 0) and taxis. An automatic detection system allows the number of passengers per vehicle to be counted.
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Taking the solution
The first of its kind in France, it brings to life the expectations of communities and the nation to encourage carpooling and limit solo driving. HOV lanes are also included in the highway code. This trailblazing 8 km lane is intended to smoothly change drivers’ habits, even if a violation of the traffic law on this lane is punishable by a ticket from law enforcement.
Arcadis has helped design and implement the entire system. Capable of adapting to traffic conditions, this flexible system has drawn on cross-disciplinary expertise. Bringing complex, tailor-made projects to life is in Arcadis’ DNA — especially when they involve reducing environmental impact for a more sustainable future.
The establishment of the very first smart HOV lane in France paves the way for how metropolitan-area approaches will be in the future.
Reducing traffic congestion improves both the quality of life of those in the traffic jams themselves and the impact of travel on the environment. Fostering more responsible driving practices is therefore one of the levers identified by communities and highway operators. Encouraging drivers to carpool becomes part of the strategy to improve the daily lives of motorists and to reduce the carbon footprint of motor vehicle travel.
