Managed lane facilities are appropriate only in urban and suburban freeway corridors where significant traffic congestion is observed or forecasted, and where the feasibility of meeting demand by adding lanes is limited. Managed lanes are single or multiple lanes separated from general purpose lanes by a physical structure, barriers or by pavement markings.

Texas typically uses three main categories of managed lanes:

If HOV lanes are underutilized, conversion to HOT lanes allows single occupant vehicles to use the managed lane under congestion priced tolls. HOV lanes must be monitored for vehicle and occupancy level eligibility and operating hours. Managed lanes must be evaluated for their ability to reduce congestion and increase throughput in urban and suburban routes.

By statute, Texas has four tolling authorities: