« HOT lanes see increased usage »

One month after launch, use of the HOT lanes on I-85 have seen a threefold increase in usage.  After initial low usage worsened traffic congestion during rush hour, Governor Nathan Deal lowered tolls and is seeking to reinstitute free use for two-passenger vehicles.  

I can appreciate the frustration of those drivers who previously used the HOV lanes with a single passenger, but I am glad to see the new option for other drivers.  This past weekend, on the way to the Georgia Tech-Clemson game, an accident below Indian Trail Road caused significant delays.  I simply jumped over to the HOT lanes and got around the blockage with little time lost.  In this instance I had a passenger so I could have used the original HOV lanes, but had I been alone, I would have been stuck.  In fact, the HOT lanes may have kept traffic flowing for some cars.  With HOV lanes, the number of multi-passenger vehicles that could have used the free HOV lanes during such an incident could well have clogged that lane.  The result could have been no cars free-flowing past the accident.  

Hopefully, the tweaks sought by Governor Deal will improve the utilization of these lanes and eliminate any detrimental impact to I-85 congestion.