Feds crack down in carpool lane

You might not be able to drive that huge hybrid SUV solo in carpool lanes. New federal rules would reserve that right just for the most fuel-efficient:

When it comes to using carpool lanes, only the most fuel-efficient hybrids need apply, the government said. The Environmental Protection Agency proposed new criteria for certifying vehicles as clean and energy-efficient for states that let hybrid drivers use the special lanes for avoiding rush-hour traffic. Driver-only hybrids would need to achieve 25% higher combined fuel efficiency compared with similar gasoline-fueled vehicles to qualify for the high-occupancy-vehicle, or HOV, lanes. Only four manufacturers -- Toyota Motor Corp., Honda Motor Co., Ford Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. -- produce vehicles that would qualify. A limited number of natural-gas vehicles built by Honda and Ford would also meet the standards. (See list of allowed vehicles below.)

Qualifying vehicles: 2004-07 Toyota Prius, 2006-07 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, 2006-07 Lexus RX400h, 2006 Mazda Tribute Hybrid, 2005-07 Ford Escape Hybrid, 2006-07 Mercury Mariner Hybrid, 2003-07 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2003-06 Honda Insight and 2005 and 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid.

Comments

[Greg Kay]

I agree with Amir. I-95 in Chicago has successful express lanes similar to what he is proposing. Even better, their express lanes are reversible to accommodate rush hour direction bias. The tendency of the states to turn carpool lanes into new-technology-privileged lanes is a clear indication that, as carpool-only, the lanes are not being efficiently utilized.

I also wonder how the commuter who cannot afford a new hybrid feels about those who use them to get home quicker.... The lower working classes get (over the top) representation by the BRU over unreasonable MTA fare hikes - but no one defends the lower middle class shmoe in his 1993 Toyota, commuting from Ontario, watching the Priuses fly by...

[Amir K]

Great, let us reward those that carpool. There's just a minor problem with most of L.A.'s carpool lanes: they don't work.

The best example is the 110 elevated carpool lane that dumps off just south of downtown. As for the rest of the carpool lanes, their inherent flaw is that they can crawl to non-carpool lane speeds simply due to overcrowding and lane changes.

I'm not saying we dump the lanes altogether, but there can be a greater use for the existing lanes. By converting them into "long distance" lanes, or having them carry people to a destination without any exits (101 south down the 405 into Orange County, for example). By factoring out the element of regular lanes, the "distance" lanes can maintain a higher speed since all the cars will be getting off at one location.

By the way, check out the "Help L.A. Please!" blog, the first step in coming up with simple congestion related solutions in the city that loves me. It's at:

amirtrain.blogstream.com

Have fun in traffic!