HOV Lanes To Be Expanded
Posted December 13, 2006 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Transportation Minister Donna Cansfield announced Wednesday that the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes introduced a year ago on sections of Highways 404 and 403 to ease congestion will be introduced on other routes.
The next HOV lane on Highway 404 from the 401 to Highway 7 is slated to open in this summer. Another carpool lane will be introduced on the 417 in the Ottawa area and the program will reportedly come to the busy Barrie-to-Toronto stretch of the 400.
“The 400-series primarily is where we will look at the expansion because it makes sense,” Cansfield said.
“When you look at the Greater Toronto study area, we are as far north as I think it’s Newmarket now, so we’re looking to go expand that study area, and that’s what we’re doing in this process, so we will make some decisions come January.”
This plans comes amid projections of 33 percent population growth in Barrie, Innisfil, Bradford, and East Gwillimbury by 2025.
The government claims that since the lanes opened on the 403 and 404 last year, HOV users have seen their commute time cut by 14 to 17 minutes.
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Who can use them?
Anyone, as long as they have at least two people onboard. That includes:
- Cars,
- Minivans,
- Motorcycles,
- Taxis or limousines,
- Trucks less than 6.5 metres in length,
- All buses (with or without passengers).
- Note: Commercial trucks greater than 6.5 metres long and with a gross weight of greater than 4,500 kg. and taxis or limos not carrying a fare aren’t allowed to use the lanes. The same goes for a solo motorcycle rider.
Do kids count?
Yes they do. The Ministry of Transportation doesn’t make any specific prohibition about age.
Where are they?
HOV lanes are built in the leftmost lane of the highway, separated from general traffic by a striped buffer zone and identified by signs and diamond symbols painted on the highway.
They’re similar to the carpool lanes on many city streets, with one big difference – those are restricted to cars with more than one person at designated hours, usually during the morning and afternoon rush.
The HOV lanes are meant to be used only by the designated drivers 24 hours a day.
The Ministry explains that the highways are almost always busy and allowing them to be used at other times would not only defeat their purpose, but cause confusion for drivers.
HOV lanes are open on Highway 403 – in both directions between the 407 and the 401 – and Highway 404 – southbound from Highway 7 to the 401
What about if there’s an accident?
The O.P.P. or other police forces can decide to temporarily open the lanes to all vehicles if there’s an accident blocking traffic elsewhere.
Are we the first?
Nope. HOV lanes are in wide use across the U.S., including Washington D.C., Atlanta and Seattle, as well as Texas and California. They’re also in Montreal, Vancouver and Ottawa.
Are more coming?
You bet. A northbound HOV lane is planned for Highway 404 between Highway 401 and north of Highway 7, to match the southbound lane.
And the government says HOV lanes are being considered for the Queen Elizabeth Way between Guelph Line in Burlington and Trafalgar Road in Oakville.
Carpooling Info
To find out how you can save $1,000 a year simply by pooling your auto resources with one other person, try http://www.carpool.ca/, or hit http://www.carpooltool.ca/ for more information.
To take a virtual tour of the lanes, visit the M.T.O. site here. (Requires Windows Media Player)
