HOV restrictions

Through June 30, 2010 in Virginia; I hope the state legislature extends it again, but not counting on it.

And you must have the "Clean Special Fuel" license plates to be able to use the HOV lanes.

 

I usually only use the HOV lane in my morning commute to work, on I-66 from Manassas to Tysons, 3-4 days a week. I work from home 1-2 days a week.

In the evening it's easier to just stay in the far right lane for the commute home on I-66.

 

Absolutely. But we won't be able to use the HOT lanes for free when they're completed.

HOV EXEMPTION FOR HYBRID VEHICLES EXTENDED TO JUNE 30, 2010

 

Hybrid vehicles aren't allowed. Hybrid vehicles with the clean special fuel plate are, and message boards aren't big enough to hold all of the allowable exceptions to the HOV rules.

 

For me, it's probably twice a year. I live inside the Beltway and I-66 West inside the Beltway is completely (both lanes) HOV from 4:00-6:30 pm, or something like that. And twice last year I had an exam at school or something where I went from home to school instead of the usual work to school, so I was on the HOV at the wrong time...

For me the special plates are just insurance in case that happens to me again this year.

Personally, the HOV-only for an entire road is crazy, especially for those of us for whom the road is the usual, logical route to most anywhere.

 

It is an exemption that you can read on VA web site. And there are 2 classes of clean fuel plates: people with the old ones are grandfathered into 95 HOV. 66 HOV, any clean fuel tag hybrid can use.

I commute from Vienna to Ballston, but do not use clean fuel because, if there is no traffic, 66 saves me 15 minutes (20 vs 35 minutes). But, at rush hour, it can take 15 minutes to get from the beltway to Nutley (Vienna).

My question is, could I get away with my prius on 66? or would I be busted?

Also, the reason for the removal of the HOV exemption is that traffic is starting to get heavy. Note that Hybrids are not prohibited. A hybrid carpooling can take HOV.

 

HOV lanes were set up based on Clean Air Act. Cleaning up air was/is the ultimate goal.
Allowing high-efficiency hybrids on HOV lanes is consistent with that goal.
We can always change the names of those lanes if that makes you feel better.

 

I believe in states rights myself.

 

I've read that there was an initial fight as the Feds said that the states could not do this, but the states argued back and the Feds accepted it.

It makes a lot of sense: 2 people in an HOV-2 lane are using approximately half of the gas of 1. And a hybrid is also using approximately half of the gas of the average non-hybrid. Probably even more true of emissions.

 

Yeah i just found out the other day that Tennessee has accepted hybrids to drive in the HOV lane since Jan 1, 2009. You have to fill out the application for a "HOV SMART PASS" sticker. They have a list of qualified vehicles which my 2007 prius is one of them I can't wait for the sticker to arrive.

 

To get more detailed.. HOV lanes are considered transportation control measures that can be used by states to meet the national ambient air quality standards established by the CAA.

TEA-21, the big transportation law in the late 90s, allowed states to setup HOV exemptions for fuel efficient vehicles, since as you state, increasing the share of fuel efficient vehicles also works towards the goal of meeting the standards. One of these exemptions is for ILEVs (inherently low emission vehicles). SAFETEA-LU, the big law for the 00s, extended this exemption.

Based on my reading of the laws, this exemption ends September 30, 2009, regardless of any state law, as SAFETEA-LU expires on this date. The Congress is currently working to extend SAFETEA-LU to 2011, but has not yet done so.

See also the discussion in this thread.

http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...ar-pool-lane-stickers-in-ca-3.html#post923653

 

I'd be happy if all the green arrows were green when they're supposed to be, and all the red x's red when they're supposed to be.

There are no signs that say law enforcement officials from Virginia or surrounding jurisdictions can use the HOV lanes alone, yet they do. What about that?