Are there any places where there are HOV lanes on non-freeways? I know in Columbus, OH High Street has a Bus and Taxi Lane. But what about something like an HOV 2+ Lane? HOV 2+ Lanes definitely would not work on a downtown arterial, but what about a boulevard with 3 or more lanes each direction?
Alexandria, Virginia. During rush hour the right lanes of Washington Street, Patrick Street, and Henry Street (the latter two a twinned one-way pair) are HOV-2 in the peak direction.
Edited to add: The HOV designation has been there at least since 1994. Oddly, some of the signs say "H.O.V.-2," making me wonder whether the New York Times' editors had a hand in designing them.
http://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop09030/index.htm
Look for "High-Standard limited-access signalized arterial" (California) or "Curb lanes on six lane major arterial" (Washington).
Pretty common in Washington.
- WA-99 throughout Federal Way, Seatac, and Tukwila, Des Moines, and so on.
- Rainier Ave in Renton
- Every now and then in Bellevue -- can't remember exactly where though
This first opened up in Stamford in 2009:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0470962,-73.5389836,3a,75y,107.25h,86.76t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sdkjLoOKMgq_RUgkcdzjeZA!2e0
I have never seen the HOV restriction enforced. But it doesn't really matter since the general purpose lanes on this street never get anywhere near being congested.
BC 97 through central Kelowna:
http://goo.gl/maps/fEK4W
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FN9BrJDx.png&hash=30fb05db9eed89750597cd6f682ef88c7f2fe409)
An NE2 pointed out earlier, HOV lanes do exist on certain expressways located in Santa Clara County. Mind you, the term "expressway" has a vastly different meaning here as these roads have at-grade intersections and are not limited access.
Some of these HOV lanes operate during both the morning and afternoon commutes (5-9 AM and 3-7 PM) while others operate either in the morning or the evening. Electronic signs and flashing yellow lights are used to indicate when the HOV restriction is in effect.
Is there a reason the Santa Clara County ones are on the right side? Are there bus routes that use them?
Quote from: NE2 on January 08, 2015, 01:29:12 PM
Is there a reason the Santa Clara County ones are on the right side? Are there bus routes that use them?
Most surface road HOV lanes exist to funnel bus traffic as their primary goal (the secondary goal being to funnel HOV traffic). Being that bus stops are generally on the right curb, the HOV lane is generally the outside lane.
HOV lanes on surface streets in most jurisdictions (Washington, California, BC, and so on) are the right-most lane.
Quote from: jakeroot on January 08, 2015, 01:46:36 PM
Quote from: NE2 on January 08, 2015, 01:29:12 PM
Is there a reason the Santa Clara County ones are on the right side? Are there bus routes that use them?
Most surface road HOV lanes exist to funnel bus traffic as their primary goal (the secondary goal being to funnel HOV traffic). Being that bus stops are generally on the right curb, the HOV lane is generally the outside lane.
HOV lanes on surface streets in most jurisdictions (Washington, California, BC, and so on) are the right-most lane.
Thanks for that. I'd occasionally wondered why the Alexandria HOV lanes I mentioned further up the thread are all on the right, but your explanation makes eminent sense.
In Norfolk, VA 337 Hampton Blvd used to have HOV-2 in the left lane south of 21st St, I believe. This appears to be removed and instead they make it illegal for traffic to switch lanes south of Princess Anne Rd. Before, HOV-2 could jump to the head of the line to get to the Midtown Tunnel.
You can see the diamond and lane marking removed on the left side of the gore area in this GMSV.
https://goo.gl/maps/hKMKS
Mapmikey
Quote from: jakeroot on January 06, 2015, 11:31:18 PM
Pretty common in Washington.
- Rainier Ave in Renton
I thought that's just a transit lane. The Seattle area has more restricted transit lanes than surface HOV lanes.
Quote from: KEK Inc. on January 08, 2015, 03:15:12 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on January 06, 2015, 11:31:18 PM
Pretty common in Washington.
- Rainier Ave in Renton
I thought that's just a transit lane. The Seattle area has more restricted transit lanes than surface HOV lanes.
Yes, that is correct. Threw me off because I'm used to seeing HOV/Transit lanes out here in the 'burbs, not transit lanes like in the downtown corridors (i.e. Seattle, Downtown Bellevue, etc). That's not to suggest Renton is a small city, but compared to Seattle, it is certainly smaller.
Quote from: Duke87 on January 06, 2015, 11:48:15 PM
This first opened up in Stamford in 2009:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.0470962,-73.5389836,3a,75y,107.25h,86.76t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sdkjLoOKMgq_RUgkcdzjeZA!2e0
I have never seen the HOV restriction enforced. But it doesn't really matter since the general purpose lanes on this street never get anywhere near being congested.
Ha I always thought about that myself, let's just say the general purpose lanes get congested, once you get off the road you're screwed anyway b/c the other roads don't have HOVs.
Plus it seems they added the HOV just to appease the road widening critics. Politics as usual.
Here's basically a synopsis of a surface street HOV lane (not transit lane, though they are similar):
- HOV on the right for bus stops
- HOV/Transit may continue straight at intersections in right-most lane
- Right-turn-only for non HOV traffic at major intersections
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FIhjVq8S.png&hash=0b33488b555c4948e4f3c4d469a10a990a22a4ed)(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FndseiYK.png&hash=cab013e205b25a44b8b4f890f031c5584e19f3a0)
Right turns are permitted for any driveway and minor intersection as well. In Seattle, the transit lanes turn to all-purpose lanes or parking lanes during off-commute hours.
Sydney has them all over the place. Many are 3+ and most are only restricted during certain hours. Anyone can use them for up to 100m for turns.
SW 128th Street, which turns into Airport Road in Everett/Lynnwood, WA. It connects different Boeing Facilities and BF Goodrich from SR 526 to I-5. However, there are no HOV lanes on 526, and there is no HOV exit at 128th Street at I-5. It is more of a pain in the ass than anything else, since it ostensibly is to help commuters, but there are very few carpools at either Boeing or BF Goodrich, but plenty of motorcycles, and some Vanpools, but a majority of the commuters are of the solo variety.
Quote from: 1995hoo on January 08, 2015, 01:49:40 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on January 08, 2015, 01:46:36 PM
Quote from: NE2 on January 08, 2015, 01:29:12 PM
Is there a reason the Santa Clara County ones are on the right side? Are there bus routes that use them?
Most surface road HOV lanes exist to funnel bus traffic as their primary goal (the secondary goal being to funnel HOV traffic). Being that bus stops are generally on the right curb, the HOV lane is generally the outside lane.
HOV lanes on surface streets in most jurisdictions (Washington, California, BC, and so on) are the right-most lane.
Thanks for that. I'd occasionally wondered why the Alexandria HOV lanes I mentioned further up the thread are all on the right, but your explanation makes eminent sense.
Another reason is that often times the HOV lane is only operable during rush hours. And the street involved has rush hour parking restrictions. So if a street is normally 2 lanes but then a 3rd lane is added by restricting parking, that lane becomes the HOV lane.
Another surface street with a HOV lane is Figueroa Way in Los Angeles. NOt just one lane, but the whole street is restricted.
FIgueroa Way provides a one-block connector from the end of the 110 HOT lanes at Adams Blvd to FIgueroa Street to continue northbound towards Downtown. The curb lane on Figueroa Street north of Figueroa Way is a bus lane during morning rush, but Figueroa Way is open to HOV and buses.
Quote from: TEG24601 on January 08, 2015, 10:05:13 PM
SW 128th Street, which turns into Airport Road in Everett/Lynnwood, WA. It connects different Boeing Facilities and BF Goodrich from SR 526 to I-5. However, there are no HOV lanes on 526, and there is no HOV exit at 128th Street at I-5. It is more of a pain in the ass than anything else, since it ostensibly is to help commuters, but there are very few carpools at either Boeing or BF Goodrich, but plenty of motorcycles, and some Vanpools, but a majority of the commuters are of the solo variety.
That lane is going to get plenty of use when Swift II (http://www.commtrans.org/swift2/) starts running in 2018.
Quote from: Bruce on April 15, 2015, 11:23:33 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on January 08, 2015, 10:05:13 PM
SW 128th Street, which turns into Airport Road in Everett/Lynnwood, WA. It connects different Boeing Facilities and BF Goodrich from SR 526 to I-5. However, there are no HOV lanes on 526, and there is no HOV exit at 128th Street at I-5. It is more of a pain in the ass than anything else, since it ostensibly is to help commuters, but there are very few carpools at either Boeing or BF Goodrich, but plenty of motorcycles, and some Vanpools, but a majority of the commuters are of the solo variety.
That lane is going to get plenty of use when Swift II (http://www.commtrans.org/swift2/) starts running in 2018.
If there's one thing Snohomish County has got right, it's Community Transit. On the other hand, Pierce Transit can't even afford to paint buses.
Quote from: jakeroot on April 16, 2015, 12:19:56 AM
Quote from: Bruce on April 15, 2015, 11:23:33 PM
Quote from: TEG24601 on January 08, 2015, 10:05:13 PM
SW 128th Street, which turns into Airport Road in Everett/Lynnwood, WA. It connects different Boeing Facilities and BF Goodrich from SR 526 to I-5. However, there are no HOV lanes on 526, and there is no HOV exit at 128th Street at I-5. It is more of a pain in the ass than anything else, since it ostensibly is to help commuters, but there are very few carpools at either Boeing or BF Goodrich, but plenty of motorcycles, and some Vanpools, but a majority of the commuters are of the solo variety.
That lane is going to get plenty of use when Swift II (http://www.commtrans.org/swift2/) starts running in 2018.
If there's one thing Snohomish County has got right, it's Community Transit. On the other hand, Pierce Transit can't even afford to paint buses.
CT wisely has decided to invest in capital improvements (Swift, Double Tall, new transit centers) even in the recession and while cutting Sunday service, which should help in the long run. The agency has huge plans to catch up to their original pre-recession goals.
Lynnwood Link and the truncation of all commuter routes there will help immensely in funding everyday (non-commuter) service. I want to see a real Swift BRT network by 2030!
Plus, they make some fairly aesthetically-pleasing pieces of transit infrastructure. I'm really liking the design of Smokey Point Transit Center, which looks like a miniature version of Denver International Airport.
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8815/17124767775_4b6ce3fbcc_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/s6fUQP)
Smokey Point TC on a bus-free Sunday (https://flic.kr/p/s6fUQP) by SounderBruce (https://www.flickr.com/people/70175722@N04/), on Flickr
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8689/16954074797_7fb6ecf159_b.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/rQb4Lr)
Aerial view of Smokey Point TC (https://flic.kr/p/rQb4Lr) by SounderBruce (https://www.flickr.com/people/70175722@N04/), on Flickr
Quote from: 1995hooThanks for that. I'd occasionally wondered why the Alexandria HOV lanes I mentioned further up the thread are all on the right, but your explanation makes eminent sense.
Unless things have changed since I departed the area, the southbound rush-hour HOV lane on Henry St (SB US 1) is on the left.
HOV lanes are common on large (6+ lane) arterials in Toronto as well:
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.asphaltplanet.ca%2FON%2Fhwy_3-9_images%2F5_cl_87-3_east_c_Aug14.jpg&hash=92d53943aa8cd74daca4af7876f14c3fae654484)