Do you think the HOT lane on MoPac is worth it? (Houston: camp, cost)

[Need4Camaro]

I've only found it useful when coming North from Downtown.

If going South toward Downtown, then merging onto it North of 183 seems to work pretty well, however; It seems to be just as congested as the GP lanes when you merge onto MoPac and enter it further south than the 183 interchange (I think around 2222).

I had to go to S.Lamar this morning and I had the option to use it for about $4 but it was just as congested so I didn't see the point in paying for it.

[ScoPro]

Massive waste & misuse of taxpayer money, like so many of Austin’s boondoggles.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by ScoPro

Massive waste & misuse of taxpayer money, like so many of Austin’s boondoggles.

To my understanding the northern sector of MoPac between Downtown and the toll road has been fairly recently redesigned hasnt it?

Just wondering though if you had the say so what would you have implemented instead?

[Need4Camaro]

I also think the 183 South ramp to Loop 1 / MoPac South needs to be two lanes. (Actually I honestly feel that entire stack really needs to be redesigned.)

[austinnerd]

It's not perfect, but it does help. I often use the southbound section between 2222/downtown for the afternoon rush and while the entry is often just as, or usually, more congested than the main lanes, things swap once you get to about 35th. Most days it's at least as fast if not significantly faster overall, but there some days where it feels like the time lost on the northern part doesn't quite make up for what was lost on the southern part.

[Austin97]

I think it is great and use it almost 100%

The main purpose is for mass transit to not get stuck and hopefully they put more routes on it to take advantage.

[ashbeeigh]

I use it in off peak times go get to family off far west. The main issue I have is that the exit to far west can be hard to get to from the far left, but I’ll go to spice wood if I need to.

[VAF84]

I think it's definitely worth it. Only sucks that it doesn't have any places to overtake. The only times I regret it is when I get stuck with someone holding up a line of cars and the main lanes end up moving faster.



During off peak times, I make it north to south in record times. There are typically slow downs between Camp Mabry and downtown heading south, and downtown to 2222 or 183 heading north; so using the managed lanes still save time.

[riaelise]

I ride the bus to work which uses the HOV lanes. In the morning (after 9:15) it saves a fair amount of time in spots. In the evening (after 6), it's just as clogged as regular Mopac and doesn't save much time at all.

I'll never actually pay to use the lanes, of course, as I'm cheap in that regard and limit toll road usage to the northern roads (SH 45 and 183A). Timewise I do ok during off peak hours not taking the HOV lane.

[Need4Camaro]

Originally Posted by riaelise

I ride the bus to work which uses the HOV lanes. In the morning (after 9:15) it saves a fair amount of time in spots. In the evening (after 6), it's just as clogged as regular Mopac and doesn't save much time at all.

I'll never actually pay to use the lanes, of course, as I'm cheap in that regard and limit toll road usage to the northern roads (SH 45 and 183A). Timewise I do ok during off peak hours not taking the HOV lane.

I've been avoiding toll roads / toll lanes more and more but its painful avoiding 183 and 45. It has at times added 30 minutes to my commute. Because I have been going to Houston fairly frequently, I have been eating tolls. Had a few times cost me over $20 in a day (ow). So now what I do is load up my TxTag every week with anywhere between $20 and $40 but continue to avoid the tolls so I end up with a high (positive) balance over time for occasions where I really need to use them.