Frequently Asked Questions About Carpool Lanes
There are many questions often asked regarding carpool lane systems. Answers to some of these frequently asked questions are provided below.
- What are carpool lanes?
Carpool lanes are special lanes on a roadway reserved exclusively for the use of carpools, vanpools, buses and certain ultra-low emission vehicles. These lanes enable those who carpool, ride the bus or drive certified vehicles to bypass traffic in regular freeway lanes. Carpool lanes are provided on selected sections of most of the freeways in Southern California. - What are other names for carpool lanes?
Carpool lanes are sometimes called HOV (high occupancy vehicle) lanes, diamond lanes, commuter lanes, or busways. - What is an HOT lane?
HOT is an acronym for High Occupancy/Toll. HOT lanes are carpool lanes that allow use by single occupant vehicle drivers who have paid a toll. HOT lanes are designed to increase the use of carpool lanes when these lanes are not being used to their full capacity. At times carpoolers are not charged a toll when using HOT lanes. HOT lanes are currently in operation on Interstate 15 in San Diego and on State Route 91 in Orange County. - What is the main objective of a carpool lane?
The main objective of a carpool lane is to improve the efficiency of freeway systems by increasing the number of people per vehicle. - How do carpool lanes work?
Carpool lanes are intended to save time for carpool users, bus riders, and drivers of certain ultra-low emission vehicles by enabling them to bypass areas of heavy traffic congestion. By giving these drivers and riders a quicker and more reliable ride, carpool lanes offer a strong incentive for ridesharing, which in turn can help to manage congestion and contribute to improving air quality. Carpool lanes provide commuters with an alternative to traffic congestion that is not always possible if all lanes on the roadway are open to general-purpose traffic. - Sometimes it seems the carpool lanes are empty, so does
that mean they're not working?
Carpool lanes are designed to be free of congestion and sometimes appear to be "empty," especially when compared with adjacent, congested, general-purpose lanes. However, when the number of people traveling in a carpool lane is compared to general-purpose lanes, carpool lanes typically accommodate more people, making them more efficient. An average carpool lane in Southern California moves 1,200 vehicles and 3,100 people per hour during peak periods. This compares to 1,800 vehicles and 2,000 people per hour for general-purpose lanes during the same time periods. - If I drive alone, why should I support carpool lanes
when I can't use them?
Carpool lanes benefit not only those who share the ride, but all roadway users and area residents and businesses. By encouraging ridesharing, more passengers travel in fewer vehicles. By reducing the number of vehicles on the road, carpool lanes can cut the amount of exhaust emissions and contribute to cleaner air. - What would happen if carpool lanes were eliminated?
Carpool lanes are essential for managing congestion along heavily traveled freeways. These lanes encourage travelers to carpool, vanpool, or ride the bus, which maximizes transportation resources. Carpool lanes also enable transit services to provide reliable service to users. If carpool lanes were eliminated entirely or opened to general-purpose traffic, these benefits and a reliable, time saving transportation option would be lost. - Where can I find out about ridesharing opportunities?
In San Bernardino County, SANBAG funds a variety of programs to help commuters with ridesharing arrangements, as well as to help employers with their ridesharing program. Other transportation planning agencies fund and implement programs to support ridesharing and are the lead agencies in each of their counties. For more information, please contact the Riverside County Transportation Commission, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the Orange County Transportation Authority and the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
