Managed lanes provide a strategy for managing congestion, reducing vehicle miles traveled (VMT), and improving safety on urban freeway networks. These lanes are widely used throughout California. “Managed lanes” is an umbrella term for freeway lanes that address congestion by controlling the traffic movement on the highway. These lanes may operate as express lanes, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, or bus-only lanes or truck-only lanes. Managed lanes may be useful, and are sometimes the only option that meets Federal air quality standards for expanding road capacity in non-attainment areas like Fresno.

In March 2025, Kimley-Horn was selected to conduct a study evaluating managed lanes as a potential solution to reduce congestion on highways within the Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area (FCMA). The consultant team reviewed existing conditions and planned improvements, developed goals and objectives, evaluated managed lanes strategies, prepared an implementation plan, conducted public outreach, and developed a final report.

The final report was accepted by the Fresno COG Policy Board at their regularly scheduled meeting in July 2026.

The Fresno-Clovis Metropolitan Area Managed Lanes Study Final Report - in pdf