Currently, the existing High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes appear to be underutilized. Why include them in the design in place of additional general purpose lanes?
With ever-increasing urban population and subsequent traffic congestion, it is physically and economically impossible to provide enough highway lanes to satisfy peak-period travel demands. By increasing per-vehicle occupancy, HOV lanes decrease the number of vehicles on the road and increase the peak-time capacity of highways. The HOV lanes provide improved travel time for commuters, enhanced bus operations, better air quality, and a reduction in fuel consumption. Research by the Texas Transportation Institute (TTI) identified that HOV lanes in Houston and Dallas have proven to be successful with 72 to 180 percent more people per lane moving on HOV lanes than general-purpose lanes. Also, the average number of people per vehicle increased by more than 15 percent. Depending on conditions and length of the HOV lanes, travel time reductions ranged from five to 18 minutes. In addition, the HOV lanes generated more transit use. Bus operating speeds nearly doubled, from 26 mph to 49 mph, resu
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