Solo HOV lane use in Seattle?

[Bacoes]

Or am I just dreaming?

[smart fortimo]

Originally Posted by Bacoes

Or am I just dreaming?

Dreeea-ming

Actually...

Is your question: Did legislation change the eligible HOV users in WA state?

My A: Not that I am aware of

[Suze]

I think someone ought to challenge the law. Someone else, not me.

Here's the deal - what's the purpose of the HOV lane? Is it to reduce the number of cars on the road, lesson congestion? Or is it to lower emissions coming from cars?

If it's the former, I think we're SOL. If the latter, then I'd say the smart doesn't violate the spirit of the HOV lane.

[darrelplant]

Originally Posted by Suze

Here's the deal - what's the purpose of the HOV lane?

WSDOT - High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

The Freeway HOV System

The HOV system is an important part of our state’s highway network, connecting population and employment centers in the central Puget Sound area.

HOV lanes enable commuters to get to work more quickly, and provide an incentive to take the bus, carpool, or vanpool anytime during the day. HOV lanes help buses stay on schedule and also provide access for emergency vehicles when needed.


Why do we have HOV lanes?

HOV lanes save time for bus riders and carpoolers by enabling them to bypass areas of traffic congestion. They are designed to move more people in fewer vehicles, and often have more people in them than adjacent lanes even when they don’t look full.

[darrelplant]

Originally Posted by Bacoes

Or am I just dreaming?

WSDOT - High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

The required number of people on most HOV lanes is two, with these exceptions:

• Three people are required on SR 520 west of I-405
• Solo drivers are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes in both directions between Seattle and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island.

WSDOT - HOV Common Questions

Single occupant vehicles traveling between Seattle and Mercer Island and vise versa are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes. Solo drivers may use the lanes between Exits #3 and #7 in the center roadway both directions (Rainier Avenue and Island Crest Way). They cannot use the HOV Express Lanes east of Exit #7 on Mercer Island. They also cannot use the new HOV segment between Bellevue and Mercer Island on the westbound outer roadway.

This arrangement stems from a 1976 Memorandum of Agreement which identified how I-90 would be operated. The memorandum recognized that the Reversible Express Lanes may become overloaded at some point in the future and therefore established a hierarchy of users.

[smart fortimo]

So, the answer is still no (with the exception that if you live on Mercer Island AND you get off at MI) Challenging the law on the road will net you a loss of $124.

Guess you could always knock a front and back wheel off and go as a scooter...

Or you become a legislative crusader, move to Oly and camp out on the sidewalk outside the Gov's mansion and waste the rest of your life ;^)

Here's some cherry-pickin' of the WSDOT policy.



Who cannot use freeway HOV lanes?

• People driving alone (except on I-90 between Exits 3 and 7).
• Solo drivers who are passing.
• Solo drivers in hybrid or other green vehicles.
• Trucks which weigh more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.

Vehicles in the HOV lanes during operating hours without the required number of people and trucks weighing more than 10,000 lbs. are subject to a $124 fine from the Washington State Patrol. Citizens may also report HOV lane violators through the HERO program at 1-877-764-HERO or online. These restrictions maintain the reliability and safety of the lanes.


How are HOV lanes enforced?


Enforcement of the state’s freeway HOV lanes is the responsibility of the Washington State Patrol. The State Patrol does enforce the HOV lanes as much as possible, although other safety-related activities must often take priority. Last year the State Patrol issued over 11,500 tickets for HOV violations. An HOV lane violation ticket costs $124.

In order to assist HOV lane integrity, we also rely on citizens to report HOV lane violators through the HERO program. You can help the HOV system by reporting the license plate number, time of day, and location of any violators you see by calling 1-877-764-HERO or online.
Although violation rates vary from location to location around the system, the average violation rate on the freeway HOV system is less than five percent. This is one of the lowest rates in the country
Laws & Statues Relating to HOV Lanes



Enabling Legislation for Freeway HOV Lanes

The primary enabling legislation for HOV lanes is RCW 46.61.165 and RCW 47.52.025. These two revised codes of Washington give WSDOT the right to designate any lane or ramp for HOVs if it will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources.

The Washington Administrative Code 468-510-010 provides that vehicles with the number of occupants specified on signs may use HOV lanes, with the exception of trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Recreational vehicles are not subject to this weight limit. Buses, motorcycles, and all law enforcement and emergency vehicles are allowed to use the lanes regardless of the number of occupants.

Funding and Guidelines


Governor’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goals

Governor Gregoire has established goals to help reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. Almost half of Washington State’s greenhouse gases are transportation-related. HOV lanes play an important part in helping to meet these greenhouse reduction goals.

[smart fortimo]

Originally Posted by Suze

I think someone ought to challenge the law. Someone else, not me.

Here's the deal - what's the purpose of the HOV lane? Is it to reduce the number of cars on the road, lesson congestion? Or is it to lower emissions coming from cars?

If it's the former, I think we're SOL. If the latter, then I'd say the smart doesn't violate the spirit of the HOV lane.

At this point, it's the former... spelled SOL

WSDOT greatly appreciates every citizen who steps up to the plate to do their share by purchasing more environmentally-friendly vehicles. This is an enormously important action and helps the state to achieve Governor Gregoire’s greenhouse emission reduction goals and House Bill 2815, the Greenhouse Gas Emissions bill. Hybrids and other green vehicles do help the environment but do not help congestion when they are single occupant. They are of course allowed to use the HOV lanes when carrying the required number of occupants.

[darrelplant]

Originally Posted by smart fortimo

Hybrids and other green vehicles do help the environment but do not help congestion when they are single occupant. They are of course allowed to use the HOV lanes when carrying the required number of occupants.[/B]

There's the nut of it, isn't it?

[mendo]

Originally Posted by darrelplant

There's the nut of it, isn't it?

I think it is 2 in the car when there is only 2 seats, not 3 like some HOV lanes require.

[wenglish]

Originally Posted by mendo

I think it is 2 in the car when there is only 2 seats, not 3 like some HOV lanes require.

My understanding (admittedly from quite a few years ago), is the 3+ means at least 3 people even if you only have two seats (sports car drivers were asking about it).

As regards the overall question, it'll never happen unless Tim Eyman Idiot gets his way

I have seen some Priuses with a sticker that looks like an HOV symbol but with something like "all access" printed over on it. I assume they are transplants from CA where (perhaps) hybrids somehow cause less congestion.