High Occupancy Toll lanes, long derided as 'Lexus Lanes', may have to be re-dubbed. Statistics kept by the Washington State DOT on a new Hwy 167 HOT lane show that most users are not driving fancy luxury cars.
"HOT lanes have sometimes been dubbed "Lexus lanes" because of the belief that only rich drivers would be able to afford them and only they would pay to buy their way into car-pool lanes. The first three months of traffic indicate that they are more like "Ford lanes." That is, the most common make of vehicle that used the HOT lanes from May through July was Ford (7,500), followed by Chevrolet (6,800), Toyota (2,500) and Honda (2,400).
DOT Secretary Paula Hammond said her agency will ask the Legislature in 2009 for permission to begin studying the possible extension of HOT lanes to Interstate 405. Drivers on Highway 167 HOT lanes indicated they are more willing to pay a toll to drive in the car-pool lanes if the trip is longer.
• The biggest complaint: There are too few access points to get into and out of HOT/HOV lanes. Crossing a double line earns a driver a $124 ticket.
• The HOT lanes were closed to paying customers 45 times over five months, restricted only to car pools, buses and motorcycles. The HOT lanes may be closed to toll customers if they become too congested.
• The state is collecting about $25,000 a month in tolls."
FULL STORY: Plenty of Fords pay to use fast lane
Express Bus Service Coming to the Suburbs South of Seattle
New intercity bus transit service is in the works in King County, Washington.
Los Angeles Express Lane Revenue to Fund Electric Double-Decker Buses
Solo drivers who paid a variable toll to use the 10 and 110 freeways in Los Angeles provided $1.4 million to assist in the purchase of the nation's first electric double-decker buses, to be operated by Foothill Transit
Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia
Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research