ARLINGTON -- The rules for using high-occupancy vehicle lanes on North Texas freeways are changing, and traffic planners say they'll have to proceed carefully to avoid confusing and angering the motoring public.
Over the next couple of years, the planners say, it's likely that the current requirement that at least two people be in every car in an HOV lane will be expanded to require a minimum of three occupants per automobile.The three-person requirement is already the standard in many cities, including Houston.But there is growing sentiment in Dallas-Fort Worth that motorists accustomed to using the HOV system with only two people in each vehicle ought to be "grandfathered" in -- in other words, be allowed to continue using the HOV lanes with only two people in a car for a while.It's one of several prickly issues the North Central Texas Council of Governments is trying to sort out before next year when managed toll lanes are introduced on freeways such as Texas 114/121 in Grapevine and LBJ Freeway in Dallas.The experts anticipate confusion and aggravation as motorists transition from HOV lanes -- where they're accustomed to driving without paying a fee -- to managed toll lanes that will charge a fee to carpoolers and single-occupant vehicles alike."You should have a predictable, seamless experience. But at the same time, we don't want to penalize the existing users of the HOV system," said Dan Lamers, senior program manager for the council of governments.Allowing current HOV users to continue using the lanes with only two occupants while requiring new users to travel with three or more riders could be a way to reward those who helped create the system over the past two decades, Lamers told about 30 people Wednesday during a public meeting on the HOV/managed lane system at NCTCOG headquarters in Arlington."They're the people who have helped us out over the years by using the HOV system, by reducing congestion for the rest of us, by reducing air emissions," he said.On Thursday, the Regional Transportation Council will discuss possible ways to grandfather in existing HOV users. The solution could be as simple as issuing a car sticker to current HOV lane users, or as complicated as devising a technology that determines the number of car occupants as it drives past a certain point on the road.It's possible that a smartphone app could be developed that allows HOV lane users to transmit the number of vehicle occupants to an electronic account. Speaking to a room of nearly two dozen civil engineering students from the University of Texas at Arlington who attended the meeting Wednesday, some officials even joked that it might be possible to use a wireless fingerprint system to determine how many people are in a car.For the next few years, though, it's more likely that the HOV lanes will continue to operate -- as they have for many years now -- with Dallas Area Rapid Transit police patrolling the lanes and pulling over violators.Buses, vanpools and motorcycles will use the lanes for free.UTA engineering student Dagmawi Geremew, 23, asked officials about enforcement. Geremew, who grew up in Pasadena, Calif., said he believes that the HOV lanes will remain popular even if each vehicle is required to have three people. He also believes toll lanes will be used by thousands of motorists who can afford to dish out the money."I like the comfort and convenience, so I don't mind paying a few dollars," he said, "but I understand it's not popular for people on a budget."Gordon Dickson,817-390-7796Twitter: @gdicksonHave more to add? News tip? Tell us
