Highway 85 HOV turned into HOT. Do you approve? (Fremont: to buy, price)

[kyle242]

Recently heard in news the existing carpool lanes on highway 85 will have an option to pay toll to drive solo.

[Azmordean]

Originally Posted by kyle242

Recently heard in news the existing carpool lanes on highway 85 will have an option to pay toll to drive solo.

I mostly approve, as long as it is congestion priced. I know people deride HOT lanes as "Lexus Lanes" but I do think they provide a valuable option for folks who aren't daily users of the road. For example -- through travelers, or folks who don't normally commute the route but have a need to do a one off trip.

To add -- even if you don't want to pay for it yourself, it helps you a bit by taking some vehicle traffic out of the mainline and moving it to the HOT lane.

The only people HOT lanes really "hurt" are actual carpoolers. But if you congestion price it right to maintain a certain level of traffic flow, they shouldn't take that big a hit either.

[jbunniii]

I agree, I think it's a great idea as long as the tolls are set to whatever level is necessary to keep the lanes flowing. I would like to see this option on all Bay Area freeways.

[kyle242]

Originally Posted by jbunniii

I agree, I think it's a great idea as long as the tolls are set to whatever level is necessary to keep the lanes flowing. I would like to see this option on all Bay Area freeways.

Certainly on this forum attitude toward toll expressways is different. Funny thing, when I asked people from Chicago forum if they would like that option, they really opposed it and ridiculed, even if new HOT lane was from widening, not converting existing lanes.

[darkeconomist]

Originally Posted by kyle242

Recently heard in news the existing carpool lanes on highway 85 will have an option to pay toll to drive solo.

Here's the VTA's page on the matter.

Personally, I believe we'll simply fill up the lanes and return to equilibrium. What we really need on 85 is something that offers an order of magnitude user increase, like a bus-only lane for BRT and for corporate shuttles (for a toll).

[sonarrat]

The major problem I've seen with the HOT lanes is with the controlled entry, you're artificially creating another layer of merging and that is hell on traffic patterns. Just watch what happens in the mile or two before the HOT on I-680 or SR-237 during peak rush.

[mstnghu2]

Originally Posted by sonarrat

The major problem I've seen with the HOT lanes is with the controlled entry, you're artificially creating another layer of merging and that is hell on traffic patterns. Just watch what happens in the mile or two before the HOT on I-680 or SR-237 during peak rush.

I agree. This drives me nuts. The other night I was in the HOV lane on I-680 in Fremont and needed to get off at Scott Creek. I missed the opening beforehand and had to go all the way to Calaveras to get off the freeway. Of course I could've just crossed the double lines like many people do, but it's not worth the potential ticket.

[justinbro2002]

When traffic is bad on 680 the hov lane is usually not moving much better. At none traffic times I like how the lane still has a 50 cent charge even though it would not be beneficial for someone to drive that lane. The carpool lanes were invented to get cars off the road by ride sharing I find it offensive that they allow people to buy their way into the lane now and have used it as a revenue stream for the state.

[darkeconomist]

Originally Posted by justinbro2002

When traffic is bad on 680 the hov lane is usually not moving much better. At none traffic times I like how the lane still has a 50 cent charge even though it would not be beneficial for someone to drive that lane. The carpool lanes were invented to get cars off the road by ride sharing I find it offensive that they allow people to buy their way into the lane now and have used it as a revenue stream for the state.

To be fair, economists are generally in support of moving toward a toll-based model for funding highways, and I'm in favor of this blended model vs. the alternative given increasing traffic volumes on our highways.

[sonarrat]

Originally Posted by darkeconomist

To be fair, economists are generally in support of moving toward a toll-based model for funding highways, and I'm in favor of this blended model vs. the alternative given increasing traffic volumes on our highways.

I'm all for toll roads, but these are economists supporting the matter, not planners. Congestion pricing does nothing to improve traffic patterns.