High Occupancy Vehicles

What are HOV lanes?

HOV lanes are high occupancy vehicle lanes, also known as carpool or diamond lanes.  HOV lanes are reserved for people who share the ride in buses, vanpools, or carpools.  Motorcycles and emergency vehicles are also allowed.

Freeway HOV lanes are generally inside (left) lanes and are identified by signs along the freeway and diamond symbols painted on the pavement. They are typically separated from the other lanes on the freeway by a wide solid white line.

HOV lanes are a key component in Moving Washington, a program to fight congestion and improve the performance of our transportation system.

The Freeway HOV System

The HOV system consists of a network of special lanes on the freeways in the central Puget Sound area.  The location of these lanes is shown on the HOV webmap.  The system connects major population and employment centers and forms an important part of the area's highway system.  Approximately 225 lane-miles of a planned 320-mile freeway HOV system have been built.

Why do we have HOV lanes?

HOV lanes increase freeway efficiency by moving more people in fewer vehicles than the full lane next to them.  They save time for bus riders and carpoolers by enabling them to bypass areas of traffic congestion. They enable commuters to get to work more quickly, and provide an incentive to take the bus, carpool, or vanpool anytime during the day. They also help buses stay on schedule and provide access for emergency vehicles when needed.

HOV lanes add fewer car trips to the transportation system than new general purpose lanes, thereby helping to lessen this area’s impact on global warming.

How do HOV Lanes work?

 

How do I use the HOV lanes?

Vehicles carrying the required number of people may enter or exit an HOV lane wherever there is a single line separating the lane. The required number of people on most HOV lanes is two, with these exceptions:

• Three people are required on SR 520 west of I-405
• Solo drivers are allowed to use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes in both directions between Seattle and Island Crest Way on Mercer Island.

The definition of “person” is not limited by age or driver’s license status.

What hours do HOV lanes operate?

HOV lanes on westside freeways operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  HOV lanes on eastside freeways are open to all drivers at night.

Direct access ramps are restricted to carpools, vanpools and buses all the time - even when HOV lanes are open to all traffic at night.  One exception to this is the direct access ramps at Ash Way. These ramps are restricted to buses-only for safety reasons.

HOV operating hours are as follows for all seven days of the week, except as noted:

• I-5:  24 hours a day.  See special hours of operation in the I-5 Reversible Express Lanes between Northgate and downtown Seattle.
• I-405:  5 am – 7 pm.
• SR 520 (east of I-405):  5 am – 7 pm.
• SR 520 (west of I-405): 24 hours a day. 
  NOTE: The SR 520 HOV lane requires three or more people west of I-405.
• I-90 (east of I-405):  5 am – 7 pm.
• I-90 (west of I-405):  24 hours a day.
  NOTE:  The HOV lanes between Bellevue and Seattle in the I-90 Reversible Express Lanes have special hours of operation.  There is also a westbound HOV lane from Bellevue Way SE to 80th Avenue NE on Mercer Island which operates 24 hours a day on the outer roadway.
• SR 16: 24 hours a day.
• SR 167:  5 am – 7 pm
  NOTE: Now that the HOV lanes on SR 167 have been converted to HOT lanes between Renton and Auburn, the operating hours remain the same. HOVs are never required to have a transponder or to pay a toll when using these HOT lanes. Other vehicles may use the lanes without a toll or transponder between the hours of 7 pm and 5 am.
• Direct access ramps (all): 24 hours a day. 
  NOTE: Direct access ramps at Ash Way are for buses-only.

When HOV lanes are open to all traffic, they should be treated like a regular left-side freeway lane.  Hours are shown graphically on the Puget Sound HOV map.

 

Who can use HOV lanes? 

Drivers can use HOV lanes whenever there are two or more people (including the driver) in their vehicle.

There are two 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 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. This has to do with a Memo of Understanding between Seattle, Bellevue, Mercer Island, and WSDOT. Solo drivers may use the I-90 HOV Reversible Express Lanes between Exits #3 and #7 in both directions. They cannot use the HOV lanes east of Island Crest Way (Exit #7) on Mercer Island.  Solo drivers may not use the new westbound HOV lane between Bellevue and Mercer Island that is on the outer roadway.

The definition of "people" is not limited by age or licensing status. Hybrid and other green vehicles with only a driver are not allowed to use the HOV lane. Trucks are limited to 10,000 lbs. GVW. Towing is allowed in the HOV lanes as long as an adequate speed can be maintained and the combined weight is 10,000 lbs. or less. There is no weight limit for recreational vehicles.

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?

Vehicles in the HOV lanes during operating hours without the required number of people and trucks 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 1-877-764-HERO or online. These restrictions maintain the reliability and safety of the lanes.

How are HOV lanes enforced?

Enforcement of the state’s freeway HOV lanes is the responsibility of the Washington State Patrol. The State Patrol does enforce the HOV lanes as much as possible, although other safety-related activities must often take priority. Last year the State Patrol issued over 11,500 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 see by calling 1-877-764-HERO or online.

Although violation rates vary from location to location around the system, the average violation rate on the freeway HOV system is less than five percent. This is one of the lowest rates in the country.

 

How well is the HOV system working?

HOV lanes move over 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 travel time on each freeway. These averages are based on peak commuting periods and directions.

Puget Sound enjoys one of the lowest HOV lane violation rates in the nation. In fact, HOV lanes are so popular that they are getting crowded. Most of our HOV lanes are congested during rush hours and no longer maintain the 45 mph performance standard for HOV lanes. Conversely, a few HOV corridors show growing volumes but still have space available. WSDOT is working to address both of these issues.  

How do HOV lanes help?

• Efficiency. HOV lanes increase freeway efficiency by moving more people in fewer vehicles than the full lanes next to them.
• Reliability. HOV lanes help express buses stick to their schedules. Carpools, vanpools, and motorcycles also receive a quicker trip.
• Speed, Ease & Money. Users cite saving time and money, reduced stress, and convenience as the main reasons they use the HOV system.
• Freeway Demand. HOV lanes reduce competition for a limited amount of space on the freeway during rush hours.
• Fewer Cars Area-Wide. HOV lanes add fewer car trips to the overall transportation system than new general purpose lanes.
• Greenhouse Gas Emissions. If we add fewer car trips and vehicle-miles traveled, we help to decrease additional greenhouse gas emissions and place less of a burden on the environment.  HOV lanes therefore help to improve local air quality, and reduce this area’s contribution to global warming.
• Sustainability. HOV lanes play a crucial role in helping to provide more sustainable transportation choices.

 

Is there public support for HOV lanes?

The Puget Sound region enjoys a high level of popularity with all freeway users. A public opinion poll (pdf 84 kb) done in 2007 by the University of Washington showed that 76% of freeway drivers who do not usually use the HOV lanes still thought HOV lanes were a good idea. 66% of this same non-user group felt that HOV lane construction should continue, and 62% disagreed with the idea of opening the HOV lanes to everyone all the time.

What problems is the freeway HOV system experiencing?

The Puget Sound freeway HOV system is very well utilized during the seven hours per day that are considered the peak commuting periods:  6-9 am and 3-7 pm. These typical peak hours often spread into the early morning, mid-day, and evening hours as well, when HOV volumes can be quite high.

The HOV lanes on I-5 and I-405 are so well utilized that they are usually congested during the peak periods and no longer meet our established performance standard of 45 mph. This makes it difficult for express buses to stick to their schedules, impedes the speed and reliability for vanpoolers and carpoolers, and reduces the incentive for all users to share rides. A study was initiated in 2007 to help develop short-term solutions to this problem. Longer-term solutions will most likely come in the form of active traffic management being studied by the State.  For a list of proposed solutions by corridor, see the Moving Washington program.

  

What is in the future for HOV lanes?

Population in the Puget Sound area is expected to increase by about 1.7 million, and the number of jobs by about 1.2 million by 2040. Our general purpose lanes, and most of our HOV lanes, are congested during the peak periods, and those peak periods are becoming longer all the time.

WSDOT initiated a study in 2007 to look at ways to help over-utilized HOV lanes. Active traffic management, innovative technology, and other congestion management tools will be necessary to help keep everyone moving. For a list of proposed solutions by corridor, see the Moving Washington program. Meanwhile here are some other measures being taken to help the HOV system keep moving:

New Lanes
Approximately 225 miles of a planned 320 mile HOV system are complete. About two miles of new HOV lanes are currently under construction on SR 520, expanding the system east to SR 202.  Construction is also underway in Pierce County on SR 16 to expand general purpose capacity on the Nalley Valley viaduct and to prepare for the construction of HOV lanes at a later point.  HOV lane construction on I-5 from the King/Pierce County line to the Port of Tacoma interchange is scheduled to begin in fall 2009. 

Recently opened HOV lanes include:

• A westbound HOV lane on I-90 between Bellevue and Mercer Island (Oct 2008).
• HOT Lanes on SR 167 between Renton and Auburn (May 2008).
• HOV lanes on I-5 in Everett between SR 526 and SR 2 (Apr 2008).
• Ten new direct access ramps have opened in the past four years.

New Ramps
Up to 19 possible locations have been identified for direct access ramps to improve travel time and safety. Direct access ramps drop HOV traffic directly into the HOV lane, removing the need for HOVs to weave across the freeway. They improve travel time, safety, and reliability for everyone by providing a more direct way for HOVs to get in and out of the center lanes.

Ten of these ramps have already been built. These ramps are being planned and constructed in partnership with Sound Transit and other agencies. They are producing time savings of up to ten minutes per trip and creating smoother driving conditions for both HOVs and surrounding traffic.

HOT Lanes
"HOT lanes" are high occupancy toll 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 testing conversion of some HOV lanes to HOT lanes.

HOT lanes allow single occupant vehicles to drive in the HOV lane for a toll when there is room. The toll price varies depending upon how much space is available in the lane and how congested the general purpose lanes are. The less space, the higher the toll. In this way, the optimum number of vehicles can be allowed in the lane.

The State’s first HOT lanes pilot project opened on SR 167 between Renton and Auburn in May 2008. For those familiar with these HOV lanes, use will be very similar to before the conversion. HOVs will not pay a toll on these lanes, nor will they need transponders. The main difference for HOVs is that access for all vehicles in and out of the lanes is now restricted to areas where the double-white line changes to dashed.

Vehicles which operate as both single-occupant cars and HOVs will need to obtain a shield for their transponder. This will prevent automatic toll withdrawals from their account when they have two or more people in their cars. For more information on HOT lane operations on SR 167 please see the project page.
 
If the current HOT Lanes pilot project is successful, more conversions of HOV to HOT lanes may be coming. For a list of proposed HOT lanes by corridor, see the Moving Washington program.   

How do I get more information?

OPERATIONS:
Leslie Forbis
HOV Operations Engineer
Northwest Region
PO Box 330310
Seattle, WA  98133-9710
(206) 440-4456
Email:  hov@wsdot.wa.gov

or

POLICY:
Leah Bolotin
Senior HOV Planner
Urban Planning Office
401 - 2nd Avenue S, #300
Seattle, WA 98104-3850
(206) 464-1264
Email: BolotiL@wsdot.wa.gov