HOV Lanes To Open Along Valley Freeway

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By By Michelle Esteban

Summary

But here's the catch: It's only legal for solo drivers to ride the HOV lanes at night, during the hours from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Story Published: Jun 10, 2003 at 2:57 PM PDT

Story Updated: Jul 24, 2009 at 11:20 AM PDT

HOV Lanes To Open Along Valley Freeway
KING COUNTY - How many times have you been stuck in traffic and just wished you could get over in the HOV lane? Well, now you can in some places. In fact, starting on Friday on the Valley Freeway, a two-year experiment makes it legal to be in the HOV lane.

But here's the catch: It's only legal for solo drivers to ride the HOV lanes at night, during off-peak hours from 7 p.m. until 5 a.m.

Friday, the Valley Freeway's southbound HOV lanes open. Next week, it's the northbound.

"I think that is a good use of cement," says Carl Falaschi of Puyallup.

What's good for the Valley Freeway -- officially known as State Route 167 -- is also good for three other Eastside Highways. Later this summer, the HOV lanes will open at night on I-90 east of Mercer Island, all of I-405, and on SR-520 from Bellevue Way to Redmond.

"The people asked us to do it, the legislature asked us to do it and so we're doing it," says Joe Scanlon, DOT's HOV Lane Project Engineer.

Scanlon says it's all about using unused highway space. Every hour, about 7,200 drivers clog the Valley Freeway during rush hour. It's so bad, people like Lynn Harrell don't even bother.

"I try to avoid it, if I can avoid that peak time, I do," says Lynn Harrell, who says she opts for I-5 instead of SR 167.

It's people like Lynn that Marilyn Carlson hopes will take advantage of the HOV lanes. Carlson's Cheap Boutiques is just off of SR-167.

"I think it would help all the businesses and it would mean more people coming in to Kent," says Carlson.

And it could mean: "Get home faster," says Falaschi.

The State Transportation Commission says it cannot open the HOV lanes on I-5 because those lanes are already too busy -- even during off-peak hours.