MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Sound Transit CEO suggests stricter HOV lane rules

Dec 7, 2016, 5:29 AM | Updated: 7:33 am

Sound Transit, carpool, HOV lane,...

(KIRO 7)

(KIRO 7)

The head of Sound Transit suggests raising the minimum requirement for local HOV lanes from more than two people.

“We have HOV-2 around here in a lot of places,” CEO Peter Rogoff told Eastside political leaders last month. “That’s not the norm.”

Rogoff says HOV lanes in the Seattle area with a two-person minimum perform poorly, and Sound Transit’s express buses often get stuck in bad traffic when they take the lanes.

Related: Toll lanes not hitting benchmark speeds often enough

“I know it’s difficult politically but at some point you’re going to face down that two is not HOV in the vast majority of the rest of the world,” Rogoff said.

Rogoff’s comments were recorded and posted online by David Hablewitz of the group Stop 405 Tolls.

“The idea that we’re going to push all those two plus into the general purpose lanes is just going to slow down the general purpose lanes further,” Hablewitz said.

Travis Phelps of the Washington State Department of Transportation had a similar reaction to Rogoff’s idea.

“We’d have to view it very cautiously,” Phelps said. “It could have some significant effects for congestion in our mainline lanes if we don’t think this all the way through.”

Phelps said different roadways have different needs.

HOV lanes on State Route 520 already require a minimum of three people.

Three people are also required for non-paying drivers using I-405 Express Toll Lanes during peak commutes.

When HOV lanes on I-5 first opened north of Seattle in 1983, they required at least three people.

The current two-plus system on I-5 was first tested in 1991.

The problem can be not enough three-person cars and too many two-person cars.

That’s why the state has started charging tolls for solo drivers in the HOV lanes on I-405 and SR 167 to manage traffic flow.

MyNorthwest News

Image: Brightly colored eggs are set on a table on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington,...

Ted Buehner

Expect good Easter weekend weather for egg hunts, chilly evening Mariners games

Both Saturday and Sunday of Easter weekend will feature temperatures warming to around 60 degrees across much of Western Washington.

8 hours ago

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Lumen Field on July 22, 20...

Micki Gamez, KIRO Newsradio and Bill Kaczaraba, MyNorthwest

Seattle tourism dollars break records following All-Star Week, Taylor Swift

It was a record-setting year for dollars flowing into Seattle from tourists.

9 hours ago

Image: A bridge in Carnation....

Julia Dallas

Carnation frustrated with Seattle again after 8th false emergency alarm induces widespread panic

Carnation citizens have faced a series of panic-inducing alarms after SPU's system for the Tolt Dam falsely sounded eight times.

11 hours ago

Grocery store shopper...

Bill Kaczaraba

Ways to deal with Seattle grocery store sticker shock

Seattle grocery store sticker shock continues to play havoc on locals, but there are ways to counter high prices.

11 hours ago

belltown hellcat social media...

Frank Sumrall

Infamous ‘Belltown Hellcat’ social media influencer charged with reckless driving

The social media influencer has been accused of driving 107 miles per hour through Belltown in a Dodge Hellcat.

12 hours ago

KIRO Newsradio gracie awards...

MyNorthwest Staff

KIRO Newsradio anchors receive Gracie Awards for outstanding work

Heather Bosch and Lisa Brooks, anchors at KIRO Newsradio, have been honored by the Alliance for Women in Media with prestigious Gracie Awards.

15 hours ago

Sound Transit CEO suggests stricter HOV lane rules