Our mission and objective
WSDOT has established policies regarding the HOV system. The goals of the system are:
- To maximize the people-carrying capacity of the freeway system by providing incentives to use buses, vanpools, and carpools.
- To provide capacity for future travel growth.
- To help reduce transportation-related pollution and dependency on fossil fuels.
Through HOV programs and policies we strive to make the best use of existing facilities by increasing freeway efficiency and promoting programs to move more people in fewer vehicles.
We can’t build our way out of congestion. However, we can make the best possible use of existing highway capacity. We are continually looking into ways to maximize efficiency to help keep people moving on our highways. HOV policy is being updated to include HOT lanes and other forms of congestion managment.
Speed and reliability standards
We've established performance standards to ensure that the state's freeway HOV system helps provide reliable travel time and dependability for transit users, vanpoolers, and carpoolers. The speed and reliability of the HOV system are monitored year-round.
The current performance standard states that people driving in an HOV lane should be able to maintain an average speed of 45 mph or greater at least 90% of the time during the morning and afternoon rush hour. The I-5 and I-405 HOV lanes are not meeting this performance standard. WSDOT initiated a study in 2007 to look at ways to help over-utilized HOV lanes.
Monitoring data are available on the freeway performance website maintained by the Transportation Center at the University of Washington.
Laws & Statues Relating to HOV Lanes
Enabling Legislation for Freeway HOV Lanes
The primary enabling legislation for HOV lanes is RCW 46.61.165 and RCW 47.52.025. These two revised codes of Washington give WSDOT the right to designate any lane or ramp for HOVs if it will increase the efficient utilization of the highway or will aid in the conservation of energy resources.
The Washington Administrative Code 468-510-010 provides that vehicles with the number of occupants specified on signs may use HOV lanes, with the exception of trucks weighing over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. Recreational vehicles are not subject to this weight limit. Buses, motorcycles, and all law enforcement and emergency vehicles are allowed to use the lanes regardless of the number of occupants.
Enabling Legislation for HOT Lanes
The enabling legislation for high occupancy toll lanes (HOT lanes) is Substitute House Bill 1179. This bill authorizes WSDOT to test HOT lanes on SR 167 in order to help maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of the freeway system.
Funding and Guidelines
FHWA Federal HOV Guidance
The Federal Highway Administration provided much of the money used to build our freeway HOV lanes. In return we follow federal guidance when determining many aspects of state HOV lane operations.
Governor’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Goals
Governor Gregoire has established goals to help reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change and global warming. Almost half of Washington State’s greenhouse gases are transportation-related. HOV lanes play an important part in helping to meet these greenhouse reduction goals.
Washington Transportation Plan
The Washington Transportation Plan is a blueprint for transportation programs and investments. The plan covers all modes of Washington's transportation system: roadways, ferries, public transportation, aviation, freight rail, passenger rail, marine ports and navigation, bicycles, and pedestrians. The freeway HOV system plays an integral part in overall transportation efficiency discussed in this document.
Puget Sound Regional Council: Destination 2030
Destination 2030 is the Metropolitan Transportation Plan for the central Puget Sound region, and forms an important part of the region's growth management, economic, and transportation strategy. Developed by the Puget Sound Regional Council and member government agencies, this plan relies upon freeway HOV lanes as an important part of the region's mobility, economic vitality, and transportation future. Destination 2030 is in the process of being updated. The new plan is called Transportation 2040, and a draft is now available for review.
Transportation Demand Management
Transportation demand management (TDM) is about using our transportation systems more efficiently. Examples include encouraging people to carpool, vanpool, ride the bus or train, work from home, flex their work schedules, bicycle, walk, combine errands, and more. Visit our TDM page to help reduce your car trips and lessen environmental impacts and global warming.
Updated June 2009.