Eyman has HOV proposal all wrong

I read the recent article regarding Tim Eyman’s latest initiative focusing on traffic. While I would agree with better traffic light synchronization and speeding up removal of stalled vehicles or vehicles involved in accidents, I have to question his idea regarding HOV lanes.

Part of his proposed initiative would allow anyone to be in the HOV lanes outside the timeframe of Monday-Friday between the hours of 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m. He claims that this would help alleviate congestion. It is very obvious with such a statement that he is not a commuter, since congestion occurs as early as 5 a.m. and as late as 7 p.m.

First of all, if those time frames are the most congested times of the day, then how would allowing anyone into the HOV lanes outside those time frames during “non-congestion hours” alleviate congestion? Secondly, why are we trying to focus on allowing more leeway to single-occupancy vehicles (SOV), when instead, we should be focusing our efforts on getting those SOVs into the routine of carpooling, vanpooling and taking buses?

We should convert the HOV lane into a permanent “transit only” lane (for buses and vanpools) and convert the SOV lane next to it into an HOV lane between the hours of 5 a.m. and 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Then, with the remaining SOV lanes, place a toll on those lanes during those times. Since the SOVs are the ones causing the congestion, they should be the ones footing most of the bill. There are so many non-SOV commuting options available, I see no excuse for not using these alternatives for those simply driving between work and home _ the vast majority of those on the road during these times.

Will Brandt