H.O.T lanes

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A big change coming to our highways this summer and it means the commute could speed up, at least for a select few who are willing to pay.

To drive in the HOV lane right now, you have to have at least two people in a vehicle. The idea was put in place to encourage car pooling, by offering a clear path on one of the busiest stretches of highway in the country. But on August 1st, commuters will enter their name into a lottery, in hopes of being one of the first to obtain a permit that allows solo drivers to use the lane.

The pilot project only includes the stretch of highway from Trafalgar road in Oakville to Guelph Line in Burlington and will start September 15th. The fee is $180 for a three month term, there will only be 1000 permits sold per term. Those who are lucky enough to get one will have an option to renew their permit for an additional six months.

A report out of Seattle says their H.O.T lanes have slowed traffic in adjacent lanes while H.O.T in Miami are routinely clogged because the maximum toll of $10.50/use isn’t deterring enough drivers prompting a potential toll hike. The province is working with tech companies to create a similar H.O.T lanes but in the meantime, permitted vehicles will get a sticker that’s linked to their license plate.