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METRO Testing Extended HOT/HOV Lane Hours


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http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/TXMETRO/bulletins/1076f8d

I'm sort of surprised that the lanes will be open inbound only on the weekends. I remember when the old Katy Freeway HOV was open outbound on Saturdays and inbound on Sundays.

It makes sense with regards to events happening inside the loop on the weekend. You would want fast access to get to the event (concerts, games, festivals, museums, etc.) but can take your time returning home afterwards.
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It makes sense with regards to events happening inside the loop on the weekend. You would want fast access to get to the event (concerts, games, festivals, museums, etc.) but can take your time returning home afterwards.

 

True.

 

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  • 4 weeks later...

Hopefully they keep this after the trial period ends. Nothing feels quite as satisfying as flying by stop and go traffic at 70 mph. I'll gladly pay one dollar to save a few minutes.

 

Thing is, I wonder how much this reduces the HTR inbound traffic. Paying $1 for the 45 Express Lane is much cheaper than the HTR--and it takes you all the way to Downtown.

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How exactly is the HOV/HOT usage verified? I had heard years ago when HOT first opened that you had to register your toll tag as a HOV vehicle. I have never found any evidence of this. I assume if you have 2+ and you're in HOV you don't have to do anything, and if you're a violator they use cameras or metro police?

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How exactly is the HOV/HOT usage verified? I had heard years ago when HOT first opened that you had to register your toll tag as a HOV vehicle. I have never found any evidence of this. I assume if you have 2+ and you're in HOV you don't have to do anything, and if you're a violator they use cameras or metro police?

 

You're correct.

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Metro PD love to crawl down 290 inbound during morning commute on the open HOV lanes before West road. They easily fill their quota for the week with all of the single-occupant drivers that use the lane. I'm not complaining though; screw those guys for thinking the road belongs to them.

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How exactly is the HOV/HOT usage verified? I had heard years ago when HOT first opened that you had to register your toll tag as a HOV vehicle. I have never found any evidence of this. I assume if you have 2+ and you're in HOV you don't have to do anything, and if you're a violator they use cameras or metro police?

 

I use the 59 hov in and out bound frequently and don't have a toll tag.  There are two or three places where the road splits and hov is one side and toll is on the other.  I would imagine they can or do put automated counters at certain spots like these to measure traffic counts.

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Hopefully they keep this after the trial period ends. Nothing feels quite as satisfying as flying by stop and go traffic at 70 mph. I'll gladly pay one dollar to save a few minutes.

 

Thing is, I wonder how much this reduces the HTR inbound traffic. Paying $1 for the 45 Express Lane is much cheaper than the HTR--and it takes you all the way to Downtown.

 

Wow! That's it? Its like $4.50 to get on going outbound on 59 entering the lane off of Milam. I've never used it since I have a jaunt from downtown to bellaire-ish area, but that amount seems absurd. Some of my coworkers say its worth it, but sheesh. 

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Wow! That's it? Its like $4.50 to get on going outbound on 59 entering the lane off of Milam. I've never used it since I have a jaunt from downtown to bellaire-ish area, but that amount seems absurd. Some of my coworkers say its worth it, but sheesh. 

 

Just $1 on weekends all day long. Taking the HTR from The Woodlands/Spring to Downtown costs $2.90 for the same weekend trip without direct Downtown access. And of course the Express lane (HOV/HOT) is free for 2+ people whereas the HTR still cost you $2.90 even if you're driving with a car full.

 

Long term if the plan is to put toll lanes in the middle of 45, it would be nice to just have a 45 W and 45 E using the HTR. Take away some free lanes on 45 and add free lanes on the HTR--win, win for everyone.

 

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