Las Vegas HOV rules to change

[jakeroot]

If for some reason you have to get rid of the HOV restrictions (I don't really use the freeways often enough to say whether they help or not) why not just leave the lanes the way they are and do an express/local type setup? It would be really stupid to have to demolish a bunch of brand new on/off ramps just because the Lt. Governor wants to make a point.

That's the way I feel.

I really enjoyed the old express lane setup they had on I-15 for several years before the current configuration came into play: Two buffer-separated (by candlestick bollards) express lanes open to any vehicles, running from just north of I-215 and just south of Sahara. Only downside was the mad rush of vehicles cutting over out of the express lanes at the ends (I-15 north around Sahara just past the end of the express lanes was the most accident prone location in the state for years). Reverting to something like that using the HOV infrastructure might be kinda neat.

I would think they have no choice but to do something like this. The only other option is a bunch of redundant ramps, which would be fine but awkward. And unusual, too; not sure I've heard of another example of a state/city building a ton of HOV-specific infrastructure to then throw in the towel on HOV lanes.

[roadfro]

If for some reason you have to get rid of the HOV restrictions (I don't really use the freeways often enough to say whether they help or not) why not just leave the lanes the way they are and do an express/local type setup? It would be really stupid to have to demolish a bunch of brand new on/off ramps just because the Lt. Governor wants to make a point.

That's the way I feel.

I really enjoyed the old express lane setup they had on I-15 for several years before the current configuration came into play: Two buffer-separated (by candlestick bollards) express lanes open to any vehicles, running from just north of I-215 and just south of Sahara. Only downside was the mad rush of vehicles cutting over out of the express lanes at the ends (I-15 north around Sahara just past the end of the express lanes was the most accident prone location in the state for years). Reverting to something like that using the HOV infrastructure might be kinda neat.

I would think they have no choice but to do something like this. The only other option is a bunch of redundant ramps, which would be fine but awkward. And unusual, too; not sure I've heard of another example of a state/city building a ton of HOV-specific infrastructure to then throw in the towel on HOV lanes.

In the case of Las Vegas, only one of four HOV-specific ramps facilitates a redundant movement—Summerlin Pkwy & US 95 towards downtown. The others go to completely different streets than the mainline exits: US 95 at Elkhorn (built in part to facilitate easier access to an existing Park & Ride/bus transfer center near the US 95 & Durango interchange), I-15 at "Neon Gateway" (alternate access to downtown, and possible easier bus access to the main bus transportation center downtown), and the I-15 at Harmon currently under construction between the Flamingo & Tropicana interchanges.

But yes, this would be an unusual "throw in the towel" situation if it does come to pass. HOV lanes in Las Vegas are less than 20 years old—I believe the first HOV lanes appeared on US 95 in the mid/late 2000s.

[mrsman]

This does seem like a shame if they have to go through the effort of closing down all of the new ramps and other infrastructure.  I guess there may be a bit of a safety factor in having both left side and right side entrances and exits randomly.  At least, when the lanes were restricted, people driving in those lanes would know to expect entrances and exits at the left.

[Scott5114]

I mean, it's not like left exits don't exist, of course. But the problems with them have been known for long enough that it would be a case of left exits being installed unusually recently.

In the case of Las Vegas, only one of four HOV-specific ramps facilitates a redundant movement—Summerlin Pkwy & US 95 towards downtown.

The reverse movement (northbound US 95 from downtown to westbound NV 613) also has a redundant HOV ramp.