After a year of evaluation and review, WSDOT proposed operational changes to some Puget Sound freeway high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in mid-November. Public attitudes toward HOV lanes and WSDOT’s proposed changes were gauged in two ways. A review of letters, e-mails, public surveys, and media coverage from 1999 through November 2002 was conducted. In addition, public comments were encouraged after the November 15, 2002 release of WSDOT’s proposal to open Eastside HOV lanes to all traffic at night and study high occupancy toll lanes.

Since November 15, 2002, WSDOT received over 1,000 e-mail comments and letters on all sides of the issue. The rate at which comments were received corresponded with the appearance of news stories, editorials, and articles written about the proposal.

Quantitative overview of e-mail comments:

keep the HOV restriction "as is"	656
eliminate HOV lanes altogether	35
high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes	158
other proposed operational hours	123
supporting proposal "as written"	109
other (questions/comments on other topics)	55

Comments are now weighing heavily against changing the hours of operation and HOT lanes. The main objection stated is the cost of the change with the perception of no measurable congestion benefit.

Comments in favor of change
The comments that favor a change in the HOV restriction vary widely. A majority of the comments that support a change to HOV hours of operation recommend opening the lanes during the mid-day and weekends, no just at night. Many understand HOV lanes create an incentive to carpool, vanpool, or ride the bus, but ask why the incentive must go beyond traditional peak hours. Many of the comments in favor of a change say that adding mid-day is necessary to have any meaningful impact on congestion.

Comments against a change
The comments from those opposed to changing the HOV restriction most often object to spending funds with no perceived impact on congestion. There is a frequently mentioned perception that HOV lane enforcement is lacking and that violation of HOV laws would worsen with variable hours of operation or HOT lanes. Some mention that there’s no need to add capacity when freeway lanes are free-flowing and that there’s a need for HOV lanes anytime traffic is congested. A number of people mentioned that more congestion with longer peak periods would result if the HOV lane incentive was eliminated. The people that do not favor a change cite examples of using the lanes on weekdays for work as well as using them to attend special events on weekends. Correspondents often mentioned other ways to spend money, including highway expansion projects and efforts to promote carpooling, vanpooling, and buses.

HOT lanes
Approximately 158 comments have been received on the topic of exploring HOT lanes. A majority of the HOT lane comments were sent as part of an opinion about the HOV hours of operation proposal. One hundred and five comments were opposed to exploring the concept. Fifty-three people stated that they support HOT or managed lane systems.

Public open houses – January 8 and 9, 2003
Two open houses were hosted by WSDOT in Bellevue and Kent. The locations of the open houses targeted residents that would most likely be affected by the change. Guests at the meeting also included representatives from the Puget Sound Regional Council, Transportation Choices Coalition, Kemper Development, and other local interest groups. Commissioners Aubrey Davis and Connie Niva facilitated both meetings with at least 30 individuals at each meeting coming to the microphone to voice their opinion. Comments at these meetings fell on all sides of the issues.