HIGH-OCCUPANCY-VEHICLE LANES: SOME EVIDENCE ON THEIR RECENT PERFORMANCE

The results of a 1985 survey of HOV lane project performance are presented. Despite the lack of the energy crises that spurred HOV lane promotion during the seventies, HOV lane planning has continued to remain active in a number of states. Most currently, operational mainline HOV lanes were found to be very effective as people movers during commuting rush hours, and to save fuel by removing significant numbers of automobiles from the road through high levels of ridesharing and bus patronage. Bus ridership has managed to compete effectively with carpooling/vanpooling on a number of lanes. Continued traffic growth during the eighties is strengthening the case for HOV lane use in many big city urban corridors.