You asked whether there have been any proposals to allow single occupant vehicles to use the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on Interstate 84 if the driver pays a toll, thereby creating high occupancy/toll (HOT) lanes.

There have been no such proposals for Interstate 84 or other interstates in the state, according to Department of Transportation staff. The legislature has considered, but not acted on, bills allowing single occupant vehicles with hybrid engines to use HOV lanes in the state.

Federal law allows the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) to make agreements with up to 15 states or other public authorities to establish local "value pricing" programs, and FHWA has entered into 15 such agreements. Value pricing is a concept under which tolls are charged that vary with congestion level. Congress created this pilot program to learn the potential congestion reduction effects of different value pricing schemes. The value pricing program provision of this legislation permits the use of HOV lanes by single occupant vehicles as part of one of approved value pricing programs. Federal law otherwise prohibits use of HOV lanes by vehicles with fewer that two occupants (23 USC § 102).

Interstate 15 in San Diego, California and the Katy Freeway (I-10) in Houston, Texas, have instituted variable tolls under the pilot program on the existing HOV lanes on the interstates. In addition, a new ten-mile HOT/tollway hybrid was built in the median of the Riverside Freeway in Orange County, California. During most of the day, tolls are charged only to drivers of single occupant vehicles using the new HOT lanes. But during peak commute hours all drivers using these lanes must pay tolls. Several other transportation agencies, including the New York State Thruway Authority, are considering establishing HOT lanes (in New York’s case, as part of the reconstruction of the Tappan Zee Bridge). FHWA has guidelines on creating HOT lanes, which are available online at http: //www. itsdocs. fhwa. dot. gov/JPODOCS/REPTS_TE/13668. html.

The March 2002 issue of the Connecticut Commuter Register discusses HOV and HOT lanes in various states. The article is available online at http: //www. commutersregister. com/ct/story. php?pEdition=ct&pIssue=0203&pStory=0.

KM: tjo