Express lanes that are practically useless

[tolbs17]

I-95 near Baltimore MD. I never get on them and traffic isn't like the way it is in Northern Virginia.

All I can think of right now. Haven't traveled too much lately

[Great Lakes Roads]

St. Louis on I-70 eastbound towards downtown.

[oscar]

^ Those express lanes have a higher speed limit than the regular lanes, and can move faster (especially if there's congestion on the regular lanes at the I-695 interchange). The standard toll ($1.19 one-way) is pretty cheap, too. I'll sometimes pay the toll if I'm in a hurry.

Plans are to extend the express lanes northeast from where they now end at MD 43 to MD 152, and maybe beyond. So what you saw was just phase 1 of a larger plan.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Any of the MnPass lanes other than the I-394 reversibles between MN 100 and I-94.

[tolbs17]

^ Those express lanes have a higher speed limit than the regular lanes, and can move faster (especially if there's congestion on the regular lanes at the I-695 interchange). The standard toll ($1.19 one-way) is pretty cheap, too. I'll sometimes pay the toll if I'm in a hurry.

Plans are to extend the express lanes northeast to MD 152 from where they end at MD 43, and maybe beyond. So what you saw was just phase 1 of a larger plan.

I mean yeah. They are in the early phases. And they are totally tolled. They apparently are not HOT lanes...

[ilpt4u]

St. Louis on I-70 eastbound towards downtown.

Technically they aren't really part of I-70 anymore, since I-70 TOTSO on the Stan Span before the Express Lanes rejoin the mainline, which is now I-44 West at the point of the rejoin

For the record, there is no signage at the beginning of the Express Lanes that Thru I-70 cannot follow the Express Lanes - which is horrible since I-70 is the route between the airport and Southern Illinois

[SkyPesos]

St. Louis on I-70 eastbound towards downtown.

Technically they aren't really part of I-70 anymore, since I-70 TOTSO on the Stan Span before the Express Lanes rejoin the mainline, which is now I-44 West at the point of the rejoin

For the record, there is no signage at the beginning of the Express Lanes that Thru I-70 cannot follow the Express Lanes - which is horrible since I-70 is the route between the airport and Southern Illinois

Aren't the express lanes closed most of the time? I don't remember seeing them open at all from my times on I-70 through the area (even before the I-70 reroute onto the Stan Span).

[ilpt4u]

St. Louis on I-70 eastbound towards downtown.

Technically they aren't really part of I-70 anymore, since I-70 TOTSO on the Stan Span before the Express Lanes rejoin the mainline, which is now I-44 West at the point of the rejoin

For the record, there is no signage at the beginning of the Express Lanes that Thru I-70 cannot follow the Express Lanes - which is horrible since I-70 is the route between the airport and Southern Illinois

Aren't the express lanes closed most of the time? I don't remember seeing them open at all from my times on I-70 through the area (even before the I-70 reroute onto the Stan Span).

Every time I drive that way (usually to/from the airport) the Express is open. They are set in a permanent Inbound(STL)/Eastbound 70->Westbound 44 configuration.

They used to be reversible, but they are not easily reversed anymore

[Max Rockatansky]

The express lanes on CA 99 in Elk Grove have questionable utility, or at least I see them rarely used.

[jeffandnicole]

^ Those express lanes have a higher speed limit than the regular lanes, and can move faster (especially if there's congestion on the regular lanes at the I-695 interchange). The standard toll ($1.19 one-way) is pretty cheap, too. I'll sometimes pay the toll if I'm in a hurry.

Plans are to extend the express lanes northeast to MD 152 from where they end at MD 43, and maybe beyond. So what you saw was just phase 1 of a larger plan.

I mean yeah. They are in the early phases. And they are totally tolled. They apparently are not HOT lanes...

Well, the whole history of this is really a disaster. They should've been much longer to begin with. The project was significantly reduced as it went way over budget.

As for the speed limit, going SB its a higher speed limit for maybe a quarter mile. Going north, it's longer for a few miles, but the chances of a cop going after a speeder here is quite low.

[tolbs17]

Although I do REALLY think they worked hard building those express lanes. I like how it has those median barriers and shoulders compared to this which does not.

These are HOT lanes, they are not express lanes like the ones I talked about.

[Max Rockatansky]

Although I do REALLY think they worked hard building those express lanes. I like how it has those median barriers and shoulders compared to this which does not.

These are HOT lanes, they are not express lanes like the ones I talked about.

How do you know there wasn't any apathy that went into the build?

[tolbs17]

Although I do REALLY think they worked hard building those express lanes. I like how it has those median barriers and shoulders compared to this which does not.

These are HOT lanes, they are not express lanes like the ones I talked about.

How do you know there wasn't any apathy that went into the build?

Because it was a heavily traveled highway. And which are you referring to? I-95 in Maryland or the I-77  HOT lanes near Charlotte? They wanted to build them to give drivers a better experience of going through the most congested areas of Baltimore.

Tbh I just think the reversible lanes on I-95 were a big mistake in Northern Virginia. They should have been 2 or 3 in each direction.

[Joe The Dragon]

I can think of an useless local lane the I-94 Waukegan Toll Plaza

[jeffandnicole]

Although I do REALLY think they worked hard building those express lanes. I like how it has those median barriers and shoulders compared to this which does not.

These are HOT lanes, they are not express lanes like the ones I talked about.

How do you know there wasn't any apathy that went into the build?

Because it was a heavily traveled highway. And which are you referring to? I-95 in Maryland or the I-77  HOT lanes near Charlotte? They wanted to build them to give drivers a better experience of going through the most congested areas of Baltimore.

Tbh I just think the reversible lanes on I-95 were a big mistake in Northern Virginia. They should have been 2 or 3 in each direction.

I believe that was the desire, but there simply wasn't enough room to do that.