Lexus Lanes coming to Charlotte (Huntersville: law, buses, moving)
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There is apparently a proposal to extend the HOV lanes on I-77 North to Exit 28. Thus, there will be 6 lanes on this highway where right now it drops to 4 lanes just north of I-485. I'm guessing this is about 9 more miles of additional lanes.
How they plan to pay for it is to change the HOV lane to a Toll lane. Anyone could drive in this lane if they pay the toll. People with passengers and buses would continue to drive for free. In other parts of the country they refer to these pay for HOV lanes as "Lexus Lanes". It would run from 5th street to exit 28.
I'm sure that lots of people disagree with turning that lane into a HOT lane but as often as I have seen it empty, is it really a bad thing?
They could stretch the damn things to the Virginia state line, if the Highway Patrol would bust the people violating the law now, rather than screwing with "speeders", during morning rush hour.
How has it worked out in other cities? I think it is ridiculous to maintain empty lanes for 2+ occupied vehicles that apparently don't exist, and the enticement of an empty lane is not enough to get people to carpool or double up. But if people can pay a toll to use the lanes, that could make all traffic move faster, so the paying customers in the HOV lanes will look over and see the free lanes moving just as fast as they are!
Not sure I would want to pay a toll just to get stuck behind a CATS bus. The times I do use the HOV lane I usually come up on some slow poke or a bus. I'll stick to my normal lanes. It would be cool if other people paid and used that lane though. It would free up the others.
Not sure I would want to pay a toll just to get stuck behind a CATS bus. The times I do use the HOV lane I usually come up on some slow poke or a bus. I'll stick to my normal lanes. It would be cool if other people paid and used that lane though. It would free up the others.
Thats why I almost NEVER use an HOV lane, way to many slow pokes. If your going to drive in that lane, dont go slow! I-77 in Charlotte has some HOV lanes, but they allow you to go in and out of it most of the time.
In CT, we had HOV lanes on I-91. During heavy traffic, that lane was always moving faster then the 4 lanes of regular traffic. It had ramps to the major exits that flew over the highway. The lane as free, and you needed atleast 2 people to ride in it.
I have yet to see what they have in Toronto anywhere else. There is a express side, and a local side, and each side has atleast 4 lanes each. On the express side, they warn you MILES in advance for the next exit. It gives you several chances to merge into the other side of the highway. For example, if im at mile (km up there) marker 200, there will be a huge sign saying to move over for exits 205 207 and 210 in 1 mile. It usually gives you a few chances to do so.
Seattle has a similar type system where they have separate extra lanes in the middle that they adjust direction for the different times of the day for heaviest traffic.
Toronto 401 express lanes are great when there is no traffic on it, but these days it's bumper to bumper, takes forever to cross the city on it.
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