HOT lanes to come to I-85 (pricing, dangerous, public transportation)

[toll_booth]

HOV toll lane project goes to bid *| ajc.com

Apparently this would be a pilot project, a "test run" of sorts with the idea for future expansion.

I'm not so sure about this plan. I do like the idea of variable pricing based on congestion, but I think if they're going to do that they might as well charge every lane.

[atlantagreg30127]

Well, aren't they still going after the guy who has something like 1300 non-pay violations at the GA. 400 toll area? If you drive fast enough or block the box, it doesn't take money out and people have breezed through that toll booth countless times, and a news story not long ago talked about the tens of thousands of uncollected tolls from those people. I don't see how they'll be able to go after people with this system any better.

If you want to make money and offer a faster lane, you'd have to actually have manned toll booths, and the lanes would have to be divided with a concrete barrier so people can go in and out of it. And that wouldn't work because years ago they narrowed the lanes in order to add an extra lane, and now they're too narrow to add barriers to. Poof - gridlock.

[billl]

This is the stupidest idea I've heard in a decade. This is Perdue's great plan? Charge commuters more money? Really really dumb.

Here's an idea: maybe they could take the money that they will spend on the HOT lane and put it to something different ..... like ..... say .... commuter rail! What a radical idea.

And here's a question: if the HOT lane is supposed to be free for car poolers of 3 or more, how will the automated transponder toll collection system know that there are three (or more) people in the car?

[Brillemeister]

Since there will be only one lane, not two, an accident in the lane will block it off. It will not have its own entrance and exit ramps, so drivers trying to get in or out will have to make their way across all lanes of the highway from the general ramp.

Wow. This is as useless a proposal as I've ever read. Dangerous, even.
Any particular reason why the money can't be applied toward transit?

[noah]

This is not a Georgia idea or unique to this state. I personally like market based solutions like this.

Here is a story from 2008 on Los Angeles doing the same thing.

Drivers will soon have to pay for driving in the carpool lane | abc7.com

Originally Posted by billl

This is the stupidest idea I've heard in a decade. This is Perdue's great plan? Charge commuters more money? Really really dumb.

Here's an idea: maybe they could take the money that they will spend on the HOT lane and put it to something different ..... like ..... say .... commuter rail! What a radical idea.

And here's a question: if the HOT lane is supposed to be free for car poolers of 3 or more, how will the automated transponder toll collection system know that there are three (or more) people in the car?

[gtgal2]

I just don't understand at all how charging people who are using the HOV lane is going to help REDUCE congestion. This seems to be punishing those who are trying to carpool. If anything, shouldn't they be doing the opposite to encourage carpooling - charging all of those who are driving alone?

I'm genuinely confused over why and how this got through as a good idea.

[vsmoove]

Originally Posted by gtgal2

I just don't understand at all how charging people who are using the HOV lane is going to help REDUCE congestion. This seems to be punishing those who are trying to carpool. If anything, shouldn't they be doing the opposite to encourage carpooling - charging all of those who are driving alone?

I'm genuinely confused over why and how this got through as a good idea.

I share your frustration. Normally, cities that have robust public transportation alternatives adopt these HOT Lanes... although MIA did it and they don't have a great infrastructure. The rationale is that more people would choose public transport or more people would choose to carpool and pay the extra fee because it guarantees a shorter commute... oh I don't know... if it's used to create real commuter options, I would be for it but this state has no concern for those who would rather not drive (or can't afford to).

[noah]

Those carpooling (3 people or more) still ride in the lane for Free.

If the lane is under-used now then offering it t others creates incentive and evens out the traffic more I would think.

Originally Posted by gtgal2

I just don't understand at all how charging people who are using the HOV lane is going to help REDUCE congestion. This seems to be punishing those who are trying to carpool. If anything, shouldn't they be doing the opposite to encourage carpooling - charging all of those who are driving alone?

I'm genuinely confused over why and how this got through as a good idea.

[jurban8]

I don't understand how this is to be enforced without some kind of barrier to keep out people who don't pay.

[noah]

Cameras and tickets in the mail.

Originally Posted by jurban8

I don't understand how this is to be enforced without some kind of barrier to keep out people who don't pay.