WSDOT - HOV Common Questions

Where are freeway HOV lanes located?

HOV lanes are located on most of the major freeways in King County and southwest Snohomish County. The HOV system is currently being expanded into Pierce County. See the HOV webmap to see where freeway HOV lanes are currently located, and where they are planned for the future.

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 southward. In the northbound direction, the mainline HOV lane ends just before I-90, and then does not begin again until Northgate. There are also HOV lanes located in the Reversible Express Lanes on I-5 between Northgate and downtown Seattle.

HOV lanes also exist only intermittently on I-90 between Bellevue and Seattle. There is a westbound HOV lane on the outer mainline roadway between Bellevue Way SE (in south Bellevue) and 80th Avenue SE (on Mercer Island). There are also HOV lanes located in the Reversible Express Lanes on I-90 between south Bellevue and downtown Seattle.

HOV, transit-only, and business access and transit (BAT) lanes also exist on many arterials and city streets throughout the central Puget Sound area. Information on those lanes is available from 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 an HOV lane anywhere there is a single (solid or dashed) white line between it and the adjacent lane. It is illegal to cross double white lines to enter or exit an HOV or high occupancy toll (HOT) lane. You may also access HOV lanes from one of the direct access ramps. Note that the Ash Way direct access ramps are restricted to buses-only due to safety concerns unique to that location.

A four year pilot project converting HOV to 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 locations where the double white lines change to a single dashed line.

The HOV lanes on I-5 between Northgate and Seattle, and on I-90 between Seattle and Bellevue, are on Reversible Express Lane roadways. These Reversible Express Lanes are separated from the freeway mainline by physical barriers and therefore have limited access. See the Reversible Express Lane section on this page for more detail.

There is also a new HOV lane on I-90 from Bellevue to Mercer Island on the westbound mainline outer roadway. This HOV lane is accessible only from I-405, from westbound I-90, and from southbound Bellevue Way SE. Click here for more information about operations in this area.

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. Direct access ramps are restricted to carpools, vanpools, buses, and motorcycles 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even when HOV lanes on the freeway are open to everyone.

The following HOV operating hours are in effect seven days of the week unless otherwise noted:

I-5: 24 hours a day*
*A few segments of HOV lane exist in the Reversible Express Lanes. These HOV segments 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 Lane webpages for more detail.
I-90 (east of I-405): 5 am – 7 pm
I-90 (west of I-405): 24 hours a day**
**NOTE: One 24 hour/day HOV lane exists on I-90 on the mainline outer roadway between Bellevue and Mercer Island in the westbound direction. The rest of the HOV lanes on I-90 between I-5 and I-405 are Reversible Express Lanes in the center roadway. They 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 they typically operate eastbound-only from 2 pm Friday until Sunday at midnight. This schedule can be adjusted for special events. See the Express Lane webpages for more detail.
I-405: 5 am – 7 pm
SR 16: 24 hours a day
SR 167: 5 am – 7 pm. HOV lanes on SR 167 have been converted to HOT lanes between Renton and Auburn, but the operating hours remain the same. Between 7 pm and 5 am, the lanes are open to all without a toll or transponder.
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.
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.
Direct access ramps (all): 24 hours a day, even when HOV lanes are open to all traffic. NOTE: Direct access ramps at Ash Way are for restricted to buses-only for safety reasons.

HOV operating hours are shown graphically on the HOV webmap and are also displayed on signs along the side of the freeway. When HOV lanes are open to all traffic, they should be treated like a regular left-side freeway lane. Left-side freeway lanes are normally reserved for passing.

Why do some HOV lanes operate 24 hours a day and others do not?

In 2002, the State Transportation Commission directed 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. This change in operating hours took place in 2003. More information on this evaluation is available on our Eastside HOV Hours of Operation page.

When HOV lanes are open to all traffic, they should be treated like a regular left-side freeway lane. Left-side freeway lanes are normally reserved for passing.

Who can use HOV lanes?

Drivers can use HOV lanes whenever there is a total of two or more passengers in the vehicle, including the driver. Here are the only exceptions to this rule:

SR 520, west of I-405. This is the one place on the HOV system where three or more passengers are currently required. The 3+ occupancy requirement on this lane has to do with safety concerns.
I-90 Reversible 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 Reversible Express Lanes. Solo drivers may use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes between Rainier Avenue S (Exit #3) and Island Crest Way (Exit #7) in both directions in the center roadway. Note that the new I-90 westbound HOV lane between Bellevue and Mercer Island on the outer roadway is restricted to HOV-only.
SR 167 between Renton and Auburn. These HOV lanes were converted to high occupancy toll or HOT lanes in 2008. Single occupant vehicles with a transponder may use these lanes for a toll when there is room. See the project page for more information.

The definition of "passengers" is not limited by age or licensing status. Hybrid and other green vehicles are required to have the same number of passengers as other vehicles in the HOV lanes. Trucks are limited to 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, but there is no weight limit for recreational vehicles. Towing is allowed in HOV lanes as long as an adequate speed can be maintained. Buses, emergency vehicles, and motorcycles can use freeway HOV lanes at any time, regardless of how many people they are carrying. For the purposes of HOV lane occupancy, animals do not count as passengers.

Who cannot use freeway HOV lanes?

People driving alone, except as noted in the exceptions section above.
Solo drivers who are passing another vehicle in the adjacent general purpose lane.
Solo drivers in hybrid or other green vehicles.
Trucks which weigh more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
Vehicles pulling a trailer when the total weight of both vehicles is more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, or when the combo is unable to keep up with the flow of traffic in the HOV lane.

Gross vehicle weight means the maximum allowable total weight of a road vehicle or trailer when loaded, including the weight of the vehicle itself plus fuel, passengers, cargo, and trailer tongue weight.

Vehicles in the HOV lanes during operating hours without the required number of people, or trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, are subject to a $124 fine from the Washington State Patrol. Citizens may report HOV lane violators through the HERO program at 206-764-HERO or online.

These restrictions are in place to help maintain the reliability and safety of the lanes.

How is “carpool” defined?

A carpool is a car with two or more passengers in it, including the driver. There are only three exceptions to this rule, listed above. Please note that children and others without a driver’s license do count as carpool passengers. Animals do not.

Why do children count as passengers in the HOV lane?

The primary enabling legislation for HOV lanes is the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) 46.61.165 and RCW 47.52.025. These RCWs define carpools as "private motor vehicles carrying no fewer [or not less] than a specified number of passengers." Washington Administrative Code 468-510-010 further defines carpools as “private motor vehicles with the number of occupants specified on signs.”

WSDOT has specified the number of passengers or occupants by posting signs along HOV lanes on the freeways. HOVs may therefore include passengers who are not licensed drivers. This includes senior citizens, people with disabilities, and children as well as other people who do not, or can not, obtain a drivers license. It does not include animals.

The words "passengers" and "occupants" were 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 additionally be required to check occupant age or licensing status.

The Federal Highway Administration also states that HOV facilities count children and infants as passengers.

How are HOV lanes enforced?

Enforcement of the 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. The State Patrol issued almost 10,000 tickets for HOV violations in 2008. 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, vehicle description, time of day, and location of any violators you may see. HERO reports do discourage repeat offenders. 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 violations vary from spot to spot, the average violation rate on our system is less than five percent --one of the nation's lowest average HOV violation rates.

Should I get out of the HOV lane if the vehicle behind me wants to pass?

There is no law requiring either one to move over in such a situation, and you do not have a legal 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 could prevent a road rage incident.

The HOV lane is a separate facility from the rest of the freeway and is not the "fast lane." Since the HOV lane may be the only one moving during congested periods, however, some drivers do consider it to be the fast lane and think they should be moving at the speed limit or faster. It is usually not worth risking a road rage incident by blocking faster-moving cars, even if you are going the speed limit. Use common sense and pull over into the adjacent general purpose lane (not the shoulder) only when it is safe to do so.

It is best to drive in the HOV lane only when you are able to keep up with the flow of traffic. Patrol officers will sometimes pull a legal HOV over to suggest this action if they see that the vehicle is not keeping up with the flow of traffic or has several vehicles queued up behind it. This is usually for educational and safety purposes, although a ticket may be issued if you are impeding "normal and reasonable movement of traffic" in the lane per Revised Code of Washington 46.61.425.

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 weight of both the vehicle and trailer is 10,000 pounds or less, and you are able to keep up with the flow of traffic. A ticket may be issued if you are impeding "normal and reasonable movement of traffic" in the lane (RCW 46.61.425).

The 10,000 pound weight limit does not apply to recreational vehicles.

Can solo drivers in hybrid or other "green" vehicles use HOV lanes?

No. The Federal Highway Administration does allow inherently low emission vehicles (ILEVs) - which include hybrids - into HOV lanes without the required number of people, 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. The HOV system greatly increases freeway efficiency and must be kept moving. We are therefore unable to offer this incentive for hybrid and other green vehicle owners.

WSDOT appreciates every citizen who steps up to the plate to do their share by purchasing a more environment-friendly vehicle. This is an important action and helps the state achieve Governor Gregoire’s greenhouse emission reduction goals. The HOV system does much to help the environment. Hybrids and other green vehicles help the environment as well, 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 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 on the left side of the general purpose lanes like other HOV lanes. Secondly, the lane west of I-405 requires at least three people, whereas the rest of the HOV system only requires 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 bypass toll booths which operated on the bridge at the time. The lane was created by re-striping the right-side freeway shoulder as a transit lane. This converted shoulder cannot safely carry the high volumes that other HOV lanes can. In order to limit the number of vehicles in the lane, and to lessen the bottleneck when the roadway narrows to two lanes at the bridge, the HOV lane has been given a 3+ occupancy requirement. Note that even with three or more persons required, this HOV lane experiences congestion during 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 general purpose lanes, in order to match the existing HOV lane.

The Eastside Transit and HOV Project will provide an eastbound HOV lane on SR 520 from the east end of the bridge (in Medina) to I-405. It will also shift HOV lanes on SR 520 to the inside (left-most) lane. Construction is scheduled to begin in 2010. Occupancy requirements for HOV lanes on SR 520 will be determined at the time, depending upon traffic volumes, available funding for the new SR 520 bridge, and other system requirements.

Can I ride in the 3+ HOV lane on SR 520 if I’m driving a two-seater with two people?

No. Even though your vehicle can hold only two riders and is technically full, you may not use the HOV lane on SR 520 between I-405 and the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge with only two people in the car. This lane is restricted to 3+ riders for safety reasons.

How do the Reversible Express Lanes work?

I-5

The Reversible Express Lane roadway on I-5 is a separate facility that was built in the freeway median between Northgate and downtown Seattle. It does not connect to either SR 520 or I-90. This facility has limited entrance and exit points, and operates in only one direction at a time. Ramps are located in the Northgate area, at SR 522/Lake City Way, Ravenna/NE 65th, the University District, and in downtown Seattle at Mercer, Stewart/Howell, Pike/Pine, and Columbia/Cherry Streets. See the I-5 Express Lane Map for exact ramp locations and more detail.

HOV lanes do not continue on the mainline where there are Reversible Express Lanes. At the time of design it was thought that Reversible Express Lanes would serve the HOV needs of the area between Northgate and downtown Seattle. HOV needs for this area are now being re-examined.

Most of the lanes in the I-5 Reversible Express Lanes are general purpose, meaning they are for all vehicles. There are a few short HOV 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 to Cherry/Columbia.
In the southbound direction, the center right lane is an HOV lane from the Mercer Street off-ramp until it ends in the off-ramp to Pike/Pine Streets. NOTE: This ramp is restricted to buses-only through spring 2010 during Sound Transit construction.
In the northbound direction, the left-most (west side) lane becomes HOV at the off-ramp to SR 522/Bothell/Lake City Way and continues northward.
Several HOV-only on/off ramps serve the Reversible Express Lanes at Northgate, Ravenna/NE 65th, and downtown Seattle at Pike/Pine Streets and Cherry/Columbia Streets. The Pike/Pine HOV ramp is restricted to buses-only during Sound Transit construction through spring 2010.

The I-5 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 operate in only 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 detail.

I-90

The Reversible Express Lanes in the center roadway on I-90 are a separate facility that was built between the westbound and eastbound mainline from downtown Seattle to south Bellevue. They do connect to both I-5 and I-405. The lanes do not connect directly with HOV lanes on I-5, but do directly connect with I-405 HOV lanes.

This facility has limited entrance and exit points, and operates in only one direction at a time. Ramps are located in downtown Seattle (at the intersection of Airport Way S/S Dearborn Street/5th Ave S), at Rainier Avenue S, on Mercer Island (at 77th Ave SE and at 80th Ave SE/Island Crest Way), and in South Bellevue at Bellevue Way SE. See the I-90 Express Lane Map for exact ramp locations and more detail.

I-90 has one “normal” segment of HOV lane east of Bellevue. It goes from south Bellevue to Mercer Island, on the left side of the westbound mainline on the outer roadway. This segment operates 24/7 and is accessible from I-405, from westbound I-90, and from southbound Bellevue Way SE. Click here for more information about operations in this area.

The rest of the HOV lanes between Bellevue and Seattle are located in the Reversible Express Lanes in the center roadway. 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 operate in only 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 Reversible Express Lanes in both directions between Rainier Avenue S (Exit #3 in Seattle) and Island Crest Way (Exit #7 on Mercer Island). There are also several HOV-only on/off ramps serving the Reversible Express Lanes between these two exits which solo drivers can use. Note that solo drivers cannot use the westbound outer roadway "normal" HOV lane between Bellevue and Mercer Island, the new HOV direct access off-ramp from the outer roadway to 80th Avenue SE, or the HOV direct access on-ramp from southbound Bellevue Way SE to the outer roadway. Nor can solo drivers use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes east of Island Crest Way or west of Rainier Avenue S.

The I-90 Reversible Express Lanes typically operate westbound from 1 am – 12:30 pm, and eastbound from 2 pm until midnight. On weekends they typically operate eastbound-only from 2 pm Friday until midnight on Sunday. This schedule can be adjusted for special events. See the I-90 Express Lanes page for a map and more detail.

Why can solo vehicles use the HOV Reversible Express Lanes on I-90 in some places?

Single occupant vehicles traveling between Seattle and Mercer Island are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes. Solo drivers may use the lanes between Rainier Avenue S and Island Crest Way (Exits #3 and #7) in the center roadway in both directions. Solo drivers cannot use the HOV Reversible Express Lanes east of Island Crest Way on Mercer Island or west of Rainier Avenue S. They also cannot use the new HOV segment between south Bellevue and Mercer Island on the westbound mainline outer roadway, nor the direct access ramps serving it.

The allowance of single occupant vehicles on certain parts of the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes stems from a 1976 Memorandum of Agreement which identified how I-90 would be operated. The memorandum recognized that the Reversible Express Lanes might someday become overloaded and therefore established a hierarchy of users. It identified buses as having the highest priority, followed by other HOVs, and then vehicles going to and from Mercer Island. The signees to this memorandum were Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and WSDOT. The I-90 Two-Way Transit and HOV Operations project currently underway will determine any changes made to this policy.

What are the large ramps being built in the middle of the freeway?

Direct access ramps allow buses, carpools, vanpools, and motorcycles to directly access the HOV lanes in the center of the freeway. They come down from above the mainline (or up from below) and merge into the HOV lane from the middle of the freeway. By enabling HOVs to connect directly with HOV lanes, vehicles avoid the need to weave across the freeway. Direct access ramps have improved safety, shortened travel times, improved travel time reliability, and created smoother driving conditions for all freeway users.

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 travel time 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 WSDOT 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 limit direct access ramps to HOV-only use.

Why should I use HOV lanes?

Users cite saving time and money, reduced stress, and convenience as the main reasons they use 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 saved car trip supports better air quality and helps to reduce this area’s contribution to greenhouse gasses and global warming.

We can’t always build our way out of congestion. What we can do is to make the best possible use of existing highway capacity. We are looking into ways to maximize freeway and HOV lane efficiency to help keep everyone 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 45 cars. A standing-room only articulated bus can take 90 cars off the road during peak commuting hours.

Overall, HOV lanes move about 35% 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 “regular” lane next to it, and is saving users time in each corridor. These averages are based on peak commuting periods and directions.

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 Southwest Washington Regional Transportation Council to end the pilot. Reasons for ending the 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.

Travel time through this corridor has not improved since the HOV lanes were opened to general traffic.

Why aren't HOV lanes open to all traffic during the evenings, mid-day, and weekends?

Evenings. A study performed in 2002 showed that opening the HOV lanes to all traffic during the evening hours might provide some benefits to solo drivers without negatively impacting HOV or general freeway traffic on the east side of Lake Washington. In 2003, eastside freeway HOV lanes were opened to all traffic between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am. (Eastside direct access ramps remain HOV-only, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.) The Federal Highway Administration required WSDOT to make $1.2 million of safety improvements to eastside HOV lanes before they were opened at night.

This change in hours of operation included all existing HOV lanes on I-405 and to the east of I-405, including SR 167 and portions of SR 520 and I-90. It did not include I-5, or the portions of SR 520 and I-90 that lay west of I-405, for the following reasons:

On I-5, making the required safety improvements to open HOV lanes to all traffic would have cost in excess of $50 million.
On SR 520, the HOV lanes cannot hold higher volumes due to safety reasons.
On I-90, the HOV lanes between Mercer Island and Seattle are already open to solo drivers.

Mid-Day. Since eastside freeway HOV lanes have already received the required safety improvements to be open to all traffic at night, it is fair to ask why these lanes are still restricted to HOV drivers during the mid-day. Although HOV traffic volumes are usually lower during the mid-day than during the peak commuting periods, they are still high enough to cause operational and safety concerns in several locations if they were opened to all traffic.

Weekends. The HOV lanes tend to be as full, or fuller, than the other freeway lanes on the weekends, so opening the lanes on the weekends would not help with congestion in the general purpose lanes.

Why are 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 HOV lanes to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes or express toll lanes.

In under-utilized HOV lanes (such as SR 167), HOT lanes allow single occupant vehicles to drive in the lane for a toll when there is room. All HOVs continue to use the lanes for free.

In over-utilized HOV lanes, occupancy requirements for carpools may need to be raised. Volumes can then be controlled by the toll price. The price will vary depending upon how much space is available. 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. More conversions of HOV to HOT lanes or express toll lanes are coming. These conversions may involve changing the definition of HOV. For a list of proposed projects by corridor, see the Moving Washington program.

Updated February 2010.

HOV Common Questions

Basic Info & Definitions

Operations

Exceptions

Policy