Where are freeway HOV lanes located?
Where can I get into the HOV lanes?
When do the freeway HOV lanes operate?
Who can use HOV lanes?
Who cannot use freeway HOV lanes?
Why can’t solo drivers use the direct access ramps?
How is “carpool” defined?
How are HOV lanes enforced?
Should I get out of the HOV lane if the vehicle behind me wants to pass?
Can I use an HOV lane to pass a slow vehicle in front of me?
Can I be in the HOV lane if I’m pulling a trailer?
Can solo drivers in hybrid or other "green" vehicles use HOV lanes?
Why do children count as passengers in the HOV lane?
Why are motorcycles allowed in the HOV lanes with only one person?
Why are the HOV lanes on SR 520 different from all the other HOV lanes?
Can I ride in the SR 520 3+ HOV lane if I’m driving a two-seater?
How do the reversible Express Lanes work?
Why can solo drivers use the HOV Express Lanes on I-90 in some places?
Why should I Use HOV Lanes?
Why are HOV lanes considered “efficient”?
Why do some HOV lanes operate 24 hours a day and others do not?
Why can’t all the HOV lanes be opened during the mid-day and evenings?
Wouldn't it help congestion if HOV lanes were open to all traffic?
What are the large ramps being built in the middle of the freeway?
Why are some HOV lanes being converted into HOT lanes?
Where are freeway HOV lanes located?
HOV lanes exist on most of the major freeways in King County and southwest Snohomish County. They are currently being expanded into Pierce County, and a short segment recently opened in Kitsap County as well. See the HOV freeway system map or the HOV projects list to see where freeway HOV lanes currently exist, and where they are planned for the future.
Note that HOV lanes exist only intermittently on I-5 between Northgate and downtown Seattle. On the mainline, there is a southbound HOV lane in the Seattle downtown area from approximately Denny to Marion, and then from I-90 on south. In the northbound direction, the mainline HOV lane ends just before I-90, and then does not pick up again until Northgate.
Some of the I-5 and I-90 HOV lanes are on reversible Express Lane roadways. See the Express Lane section on this page for more details on these segments.
HOV, transit-only, and business access and transit (BAT) lanes also exist on many arterials and city streets throughout the Puget Sound Area. Information on those locations is available from the local jurisdictions.
Where can I get into the HOV lanes?
HOV lanes are on the inside or left-most lane everywhere except on SR 520. You can get into the HOV lanes anywhere from the adjacent lane, or from one of the direct access ramps. Note that the Ash Way direct access ramps are open to transit only due to safety concerns unique to that location.
Note also that a four year pilot project converting HOV to high occupant toll or HOT lanes opened on SR 167 between Auburn and Renton in May 2008. Access and egress into HOT lanes is restricted for all vehicles, including HOVs, to places where the double white line changes to dashed.
The HOV lanes on I-5 between Northgate and Seattle, and on I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue, are on the reversible Express Lanes roadway, and therefore have limited access. See the Express Lane section on this page for more details on these segments.
When do the freeway HOV lanes operate?
Freeway HOV lanes on the west side of Lake Washington operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Freeway HOV lanes on the east side of Lake Washington are open to all drivers at night. There is one small segment on SR 305 that operates during the peak commuting hours only. Direct access ramps are restricted to carpools, vanpools and buses 24 hours a day, even when the HOV lanes on the freeway are open to all drivers at night.
HOV operating hours are as follows for all seven days of the week unless otherwise noted:
- I-5: 24 hours a day*
*A few segments of HOV lane also exist in the reversible Express Lanes. These HOV segments only operate in one direction at a time. The I-5 reversible Express Lanes typically operate southbound during the morning, northbound during the afternoon and evening, and are closed at night. This schedule is the same for weekdays, weekends, and holidays, although it is sometimes adjusted for special events. See the Express Lanes webpage for more details.
- I-90 (east of I-405): 5 am – 7 pm
- I-90 (west of I-405): 24 hours a day**
**NOTE: The HOV lanes on I-90 between I-5 and I-405 are reversible Express Lanes. They only operate in one direction at a time. On weekdays they typically operate westbound from 1 am – 12:30 pm, and eastbound from 2 pm until midnight. On weekends and most holidays they typically operate eastbound only. This schedule can be adjusted for special events. See the Express Lanes webpage for more details.
- I-405: 5 am – 7 pm
- SR 16: 24 hours a day
- SR 167: 5 am – 7 pm
- SR 305: 6 – 8 am and 3 – 6 pm, M – F only
- SR 520 (east of I-405): 5 am – 7 pm
NOTE: Unlike the rest of the freeway HOV system, HOV lanes on SR 520 are on the right side of the general purpose lanes. This means that all cars entering and exiting the freeway have to pass through the HOV lane on their way to the general purpose lanes, so extra care is required of all users.
- SR 520 (west of I-405): 24 hours a day.
NOTE: This lane requires three or more people for safety reasons.
Unlike the rest of the freeway HOV system, HOV lanes on SR 520 are on the right side of the general purpose lanes. This means that all cars entering and exiting the freeway have to pass through the HOV lane on their way to the general purpose lanes, so extra care is required of all users.
- Direct access ramps (all): 24 hours a day.
NOTE: Direct access ramps at Ash Way are for transit-only for safety reasons.
Hours are shown graphically on the Puget Sound HOV map and are also displayed on signs along the side of the freeway.
Who can use HOV lanes?
Drivers can use HOV lanes whenever there are two or more people in their vehicle, including the driver.
There are a few exceptions to this rule:
- SR 520, west of I-405. This is the only place on the HOV system where three or more people are required. The 3+ occupancy requirement on this segment has to do with safety concerns.
- I-90 Express Lanes, west of Island Crest Way. Single occupant vehicles traveling between Seattle and Mercer Island and vise versa are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Express Lanes. Solo drivers may use the I-90 HOV Express Lanes between Exits #3 and #7 in both directions (Rainier Avenue and Island Crest Way).
- SR 167 between Renton and Auburn. These lanes are part of a four year pilot project converting HOV to high occupant toll or HOT lanes. Single occupant vehicles with a transponder can use these lanes for a toll. See the project page for more information.
The definition of "people" is not limited by age or licensing status. Single-occupant hybrid and other green vehicles are not allowed to use the HOV lane. There is no weight limit for recreational vehicles. Towing is allowed in the HOV lanes as long as an adequate speed can be maintained. Public buses, emergency vehicles, and motorcycles can use freeway HOV lanes at any time, regardless of how many people are on board.
Who cannot use freeway HOV lanes?
- People driving alone, except as noted in the exceptions section above.
- Solo drivers who are passing.
- Solo drivers in hybrid vehicles or green vehicles.
- Trucks which weigh more than 10,000 pounds.
Vehicles in the HOV lanes during operating hours without the required number of people or weighing more than 10,000 lbs. are subject to a $124 fine from the Washington State Patrol. Citizens may also report HOV lane violators through the HERO program at 206-764-HERO or online. These restrictions maintain the reliability and safety of the lanes.
Why can’t solo drivers use the direct access ramps?
The main reasons for the construction of direct access ramps are to improve safety, reduce congestion, save time, and increase reliability for both HOVs and general-purpose traffic. This is part of the voter-approved Sound Transit program to improve regional mobility for transit and HOV users.
It is not possible for us to allow non-HOV traffic on the direct access ramps at any time. The restrictions on these ramps are not arbitrary. Under the Agreement for Operation and Use of Sound Transit Funded HOV and Direct Access Facilities Memorandums of Understanding (1997 and 2005), Sound Transit contributed a substantial amount of money towards the construction of HOV direct access facilities in exchange for the right to build them on WSDOT property. In return WSDOT agreed to specified terms of use, which limits direct access ramps to HOV-only use.
How is “carpool” defined?
A carpool is any car with two or more people in it, including the driver. There is only one exception to this 2+ rule: on SR 520 between I-405 and the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge. This lane was originally designed as a shoulder and cannot safely handle large traffic volumes. It is therefore designated as a 3+ section in order to limit the HOV volumes.
Please note that children and others without a driver’s license DO count as carpool passengers.
How are HOV lanes enforced?
Enforcement of the state’s freeway HOV lanes is the responsibility of the Washington State Patrol. Although safety-related activities take priority, the State Patrol enforces the HOV lanes as much as possible. Last year the State Patrol issued over 11,000 tickets for HOV violations. An HOV lane violation ticket costs $124.
In order to assist HOV lane integrity, we also rely on citizens to report HOV lane violators through the HERO program. You can help the HOV system by reporting the license plate number, time of day, and location of any violators you may see. Reporting to HERO does help to reduce violators. Less than three percent of those reported in 2007 were reported a second time, and fewer than two percent were reported three or more times.
Although violation rates vary from spot to spot around the system, the average HOV lane violation rate in this area is less than five percent. This is one of the lowest rates in the country.
Should I get out of the HOV lane if the vehicle behind me wants to pass?
There is no law suggesting who should move over in such a situation, and you do not have an obligation to move out of the HOV Lane to allow speeding vehicles by. However, the Washington State Patrol suggests that it is usually best for a vehicle in the HOV lane to move over, when safe to do so. This allows the aggressive driver by, and may prevent a road rage incident.
Patrol officers will sometimes pull a legal HOV over to suggest this action if they see that the HOV is not keeping up with the flow of traffic or has several vehicles queued up behind it. This is for educational and safety purposes rather than ticketing.
The HOV lane is a separate facility from the rest of the freeway and is not the "fast lane." However, many people do consider it to be just that, as it may be the only lane moving during congested times. It is usually not worth risking a road rage incident when blocking faster-moving cars, even if you are going the speed limit, but do use common sense and pull over into the adjacent general purpose lane (not the shoulder) only when it is safe to do so.
Can I use an HOV lane to pass a slow vehicle in front of me?
No, not unless you have the required number of people in the car. Violation of this rule is a moving vehicle infraction and comes with a fine of $124.
Can I be in the HOV lane if I’m pulling a trailer?
Yes, as long as the combined gross vehicle weight of both vehicles is 10,000 pounds or less. The 10,000 pound weight limit does not apply to recreational vehicles.
Can solo drivers in hybrid or other "green" vehicles use HOV lanes?
The Federal Highway Administration does allow single-occupant inherently low emissions vehicles (ILEVs) - which include hybrids - into HOV lanes, but such permission is up to individual states based upon preservation of good operating conditions in the HOV lanes. Right now most of our HOV lanes are already full during the busiest commuting periods.
The technology for hybrids and other green vehicles is changing at a rapid pace, and it is likely that many vehicles will soon fall into the ILEV category. Our HOV lanes could quickly follow the fate of Virginia's HOV lanes and become even more crowded. Our HOV lanes do much to help the environment and must be kept moving. We are therefore unable to offer this incentive for hybrid and other green vehicle owners.
WSDOT greatly appreciates every citizen who steps up to the plate to do their share by purchasing more environmentally-friendly vehicles. This is an enormously important action and helps the state to achieve Governor Gregoire’s greenhouse emission reduction goals. Hybrids and other green vehicles do help the environment but do not help congestion when they are single occupant. They are of course allowed to use the HOV lanes when carrying the required number of occupants.
Why do children count as passengers in the HOV lane?
The primary enabling law for HOV lanes is RCW 46.61.165 which defines carpools as "private motor vehicles carrying no fewer than a specified number of passengers." WSDOT has specified the number of passengers by posting signs along HOV lanes. The signs state the number of "people" required to ride in the HOV lane. HOVs may therefore include passengers who are not licensed drivers. These can include senior citizens, people with disabilities, and children as well as other people who do not, or can not, obtain a drivers license for various reasons.
The word "people" was purposely chosen to ensure enforceability by the Washington State Patrol. It can already be challenging to accurately determine how many occupants are in a vehicle. It would be much more difficult and expensive for State Patrol officers to also be required to determine occupant age or licensing status.
Why are motorcycles allowed in the HOV lanes with only one person?
The allowance originates with a federal mandate having to do with safety and following distance. The reasoning is that it is safer to keep two-wheeled vehicles moving than to have them in stop-and-go traffic conditions.
Why are the HOV lanes on SR 520 different from all the other HOV lanes?
The HOV lanes on SR 520 are different from the rest of the HOV system in two ways. They are on the outside, or right side of the freeway rather than in the middle like other HOV lanes. Secondly, the lane west of I-405 requires at least three people, whereas the rest of the HOV lanes on SR 520, and the rest of the freeway system in general, only require two people.
The westbound SR 520 HOV lane that goes from I-405 to the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge is one of the oldest HOV lanes in the area. It was opened in 1973 as a transit-only lane to allow buses to avoid stopping at the toll booths which operated on the bridge at the time. The right side shoulder was re-striped as a transit lane and cannot safely carry the high volumes which other HOV lanes carry. In order to limit the number of vehicles in the lane, and to lessen the bottleneck effect when the roadway narrows to two lanes at the bridge, this HOV lane has been given a 3+ occupancy requirement. Note that even with three or more persons required, this HOV lane experiences congestion during the morning and evening rush hours.
The SR 520 eastbound and westbound HOV lanes east of I-405 were built more recently and can handle higher volumes. They therefore have a 2+ occupancy requirement. These lanes were also placed on the outside, or right side of the freeway, in order to match the existing HOV lane.
The SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project will provide inside, or left side HOV lanes across the bridge. It may then be possible to move the rest of the SR 520 HOV lanes to the inside. Occupancy requirements for SR 520 HOV lanes will be determined at the time, depending upon traffic volumes and other system requirements.
Can I ride in the 3+ HOV lane on SR 520 if I’m driving a two-seater?
No. Even though your vehicle can only hold two riders and is technically “full” with two people in it, you may not use this one segment of HOV lane. This lane is restricted to 3+ riders in order to limit volumes for safety reasons.
How do the reversible Express Lanes work?
I-5
HOV lanes do not continue on the mainline where there are reversible Express Lanes. At the time I-5 was designed and built it was thought that the reversible Express Lanes would serve the HOV needs for the area between Northgate and downtown Seattle. HOV needs for this area are now being examined as part of the I-5 Reconstruction Project.
Most of the lanes in the I-5 reversible Express Lanes are general purpose, meaning they are for all vehicles. However, there are several HOV only on- and off-ramps serving the Express Lanes. There are also a few segments of HOV-only lanes in these locations:
- In the southbound direction, the left-most (east side) lane is designated HOV from approximately Roanoke until it ends in the off-ramp at Cherry/Columbia.
- In the southbound direction, the center right lane is also an HOV lane from approximately Stewart until it ends in the off-ramp to Pike.
- In the northbound direction, the left-most (west side) lane becomes HOV at SR 522 and continues northward.
The HOV lanes in the I-5 reversible Express Lanes are different from HOV lanes on the rest of the system in that they are on a separate facility from the mainline and only operate in one direction at a time. All I-5 reversible Express Lanes (including the HOV segments) typically operate southbound during the morning, northbound during the afternoon and evening, and are closed at night. This schedule is the same for weekdays, weekends, and holidays, although it is sometimes adjusted for special events. See the I-5 Express Lanes page for a map and more details.
I-90
The HOV lanes in the I-90 reversible Express Lanes are different from HOV lanes on the rest of the system in that they are separated from the general purpose lanes by a barrier, can only be accessed at certain points, and only operate in one direction at a time.
All of the lanes in the I-90 reversible Express Lanes are designated HOV. However, single occupant vehicles are allowed in the I-90 HOV Express Lanes in both directions between exit #3 (Rainier Avenue in Seattle) and #7 (Island Crest Way on Mercer Island). There are also several HOV only on- and off-ramps serving the Express Lanes between these two exits which solo drivers can use.
The I-90 reversible Express Lanes typically operate westbound from 1 am – 12:30 pm, and eastbound from 2 pm until midnight. On weekends and most holidays they typically operate eastbound only. This schedule can be adjusted for special events. See the I-90 Express Lanes page for a map and more details.
Why can solo vehicles use the HOV Express Lanes on I-90 in some places?
Single occupant vehicles traveling between Seattle and Mercer Island and vise versa are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Express Lanes. Solo drivers may use the lanes between Exits #3 and #7 in both directions (Rainier Avenue and Island Crest Way). They cannot use the HOV Express Lanes east of Exit #7 on Mercer Island.
This arrangement stems from a 1976 Memorandum of Agreement which identified how I-90 would be operated. The memorandum recognized that the reversible Express Lanes may become overloaded at some point in the future and therefore established a hierarchy of users. It identified transit buses as having the highest priority, followed by HOVs, and then vehicles going to and from Mercer Island. The cities and agencies that signed this memorandum are Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and WSDOT. The Federal Transit Authority and Sound Transit are also steering committee members on the I-90 Center Roadway project currently underway, which will determine any changes made to this policy.
Why should I use HOV lanes?
- Users cite saving time and money, reduced stress, and convenience as the main benefits they receive from the HOV system.
- Travelers in an HOV lane usually move faster than the other lanes, even when the HOV lane is crowded.
- Travel time is more reliable.
- People who carpool, vanpool, or ride transit can save thousands of dollars on their annual commute cost.
- Every shared ride reduces the number of car trips on the overall transportation system.
- Every shared ride helps air quality and helps to reduce this area’s contribution to greenhouse gasses and global warming.
We can’t build our way out of congestion. However, we can make the best possible use of existing highway capacity. We are looking into ways to maximize HOV lane efficiency to help keep people moving.
Why are HOV lanes considered “efficient”?
HOV lanes are designed to maximize the movement of people rather than vehicles, so they often have more people in them than the other lanes even when they don’t look full. You may see only one bus a minute, but that bus could easily be carrying the equivalent of 50 cars. On I-5 in north Seattle, HOV lanes carry about 2-1/2 times as many people as an adjacent general purpose lane during the afternoon rush hours.
Overall, HOV lanes move more than one-third of the people on rush hour freeways in only about 19% of the vehicles. The average HOV lane is carrying more than 1½ times as many people as the average “regular” lane during the peak commuting periods, and is saving users time in each corridor.
Why do some HOV lanes operate 24 hours a day and others do not?
In 2002, the State Transportation Commission directed the WSDOT to implement an evaluation of all Puget Sound HOV lanes in order to determine if they could be operated any more efficiently. One of the results of this evaluation was to open HOV lanes to all traffic on freeways east of Lake Washington between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am. More information on this evaluation is available on our Eastside HOV Evaluation page. HOV lanes should be treated as a passing lane when open to all traffic at night.
Why can’t all the HOV lanes be opened during the evenings and mid-day?
A study performed in 2002 showed that opening the HOV lanes to general purpose traffic during the evening hours could provide some benefits to solo drivers without negatively impacting HOV or general purpose traffic on the freeways on the east side of Lake Washington. The Federal Highway Administration required $1.2 million of safety improvements to be made to eastside HOV lanes before opening them to general traffic. Eastside freeway HOV lanes were opened to all traffic between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am in 2003. (All direct access ramps remain HOV 24 hours a day.)
This opening at night included all existing HOV lanes at the time except for the portions of SR 520 and I-90 that lay west of I-405, and the I-5 corridor. On SR 520, the HOV lanes cannot hold higher volumes due to safety reasons. On I-90, The HOV lanes between Bellevue and Seattle are currently being moved from the reversible Express Lanes to the outer roadway, and the HOV between exits #3 and #7 (Rainier Avenue and Island Crest Way) are already open to solo drivers. On I-5, making the safety improvements that would be required by the Federal Highway Administration to open the HOV lanes to general traffic would be cost prohibitive.
It is fair to ask why the eastside freeway HOV lanes that have already received the required safety improvements and are currently open at night can not also be opened during the mid-day when HOV volumes tend to be lower. Although HOV traffic volumes are lower during the mid-day than during the peak periods, they are still high enough to cause operational and safety problems in several locations if opened to general purpose traffic.
Wouldn't it help congestion if HOV lanes were open to all traffic?
Studies show that many people who aren’t usually on the regular freeway lanes during rush hours would switch to driving alone if HOV lanes were no longer reserved for HOVs --including many of the people who are currently busing, carpooling, and vanpooling. This would quickly result in another clogged lane.
An example of this was the HOV pilot project in Vancouver, WA. An HOV lane operated on southbound I-5 from 2001 until 2005 during the morning commute. Although the project met most of its performance goals, other circumstances resulted in a recommendation by the local Transportation Council to end the pilot. Travel time through this corridor has not improved since the HOV lanes were opened to general traffic.
Reasons for ending the pilot project included insufficient park-and-ride facilities, cutbacks on transit service coupled with an increase in fares, and a lack of connecting HOV lanes into Portland. HOV lanes in Vancouver may be revisited when plans for the Columbia River Crossing and HOV lanes into Portland are finalized.
What are the large ramps being built in the middle of the freeway?
Direct access ramps allow buses, carpools and vanpools to directly access the HOV lanes in the center of the freeway. They come down from above the mainline and merge into the HOV lane from the middle of the freeway. By enabling HOVs to connect directly with these lanes, buses avoid the need to weave across the freeway. Direct access ramps improve safety, improve travel time reliability, and create smoother driving conditions for both HOVs and general traffic.
Why are some HOV lanes being converted into HOT lanes?
HOV lanes can become inefficient if they are too congested. Likewise, HOV lanes with low volumes are not being used as efficiently as possible. To ensure optimum efficiency, WSDOT is looking at conversion of some HOV lanes to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes.
In under-utilized HOV lanes, HOT lanes allow single occupant vehicles to drive in the lane for a toll when there is room. The toll price varies depending upon how much space is available in the lane. The less space, the higher the toll. In this way, the optimum number of vehicles can be allowed in the lane. Our first HOT lane pilot project opened on SR 167 in May 2008.
Updated July, 2008