Is anyone using the Car Pool lanes from the IE to work? (Corona: new house)

[looking2reloc]

Hi!

I've made an offer for a house in Corona close to downtown. I work in Los Alamitos and was wondering if I buy a hybrid car with HOV stickers, and use the car pool lanes to work, if it would be crowded too or not. Can anyone tell me if they've used it too? I'm looking to start driving at 6am and 4pm coming back.

I also know that there are Toll Express lanes I can use. So using that as well as the car pool lanes, would that lessen my commute time?

Thanks for your input!

[OCteach]

If you have 3+ in your car and a special transponder you can travel west bound for free and east bound for half off during 4 to 6 and free all the rest of the time. What part of Corona is your new house in? We are thinking about moving there and my hours are similar - I am a teacher in Buena Park.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Boy I hope those seats are comfortable. Los Alamitos to Corona at 4pm is probably 1.5-2hrs.

[bhcompy]

the carpool lanes on the 91 are not commuter friendly during rushhour in my experience. too much traffic

instead of buying a hybrid you may want to consider buying a beater car and parking it at the norwalk or buena park metrolink station. the metrolink 91 line has 2 stops in corona. looking at hte times, seems to be an hour to an hour and 20 each way including the transfer at orange station. a friend of mine does the same thing. lives in san diego, drives to the station and parks his car, takes the train up, hops into his beater car and drives to work when he gets to his destination and does the reverse on the way home. i bet the cost of the ticket is only slightly more than the toll, and what you save in gas and frustration will make up the difference

[looking2reloc]

I've been looking at the metrolink's website too. Yes, my other option would be the metrolink. I was just wondering if the car pool lanes were any better than the regular lanes.

Thanks!

[looking2reloc]

Originally Posted by OCteach

If you have 3+ in your car and a special transponder you can travel west bound for free and east bound for half off during 4 to 6 and free all the rest of the time. What part of Corona is your new house in? We are thinking about moving there and my hours are similar - I am a teacher in Buena Park.

The house that I've made an offer on is close to downtown. I think that the exit would be Main st. off of the 91. What are your hours? Maybe we can think about carpooling if the house goes through.

[OCteach]

I would be leaving at 6 but could probably leave by 3 or 3.:30. But maybe we could work something out. My friends that live in corona tell me that the morning commute is not as bad as the afternoon. He lives at the 91 and main and it takes him about 45 minutes to get to Buena Park. I think your commute will be about an hour in the morning.