More recent proposals and contracts for that sort of thing in Texas *require* the converted tollway to retain the original capacity free lanes. Other states too.
Also, the proposal for El Paso was to convert the HOV lanes into toll lanes IIRC. Free passage was still to be available.
FYI, HOV lanes were forced on states by (wait for it) withholding Federal highway money until they agreed to put the useless things in. I like them when I’m riding my motorcycle because basically it means I legally get a free express lane all to myself. Not so much when I’m alone in my car, though - it’s an empty lane that could be used for traffic but isn’t.
“More recent proposals and contracts for that sort of thing in Texas *require* the converted tollway to retain the original capacity free lanes. Other states too.”
We’re talking DC, not Texas and we’re talking selling off Interstates. What Texas is doing is tolerable (for now)...but the BIG PRIZE, the one that has Goldman pounding the doors, is GETTING RID of the ‘free’ lanes, as is being proposed nationally.
“Also, the proposal for El Paso was to convert the HOV lanes into toll lanes IIRC. Free passage was still to be available.”
Maybe later, but I drove that stretch many times before there were HOV lanes...and that was in the TTC days. All lanes at that time were open to all.
“FYI, HOV lanes were forced on states by (wait for it) withholding Federal highway money until they agreed to put the useless things in. I like them when I’m riding my motorcycle because basically it means I legally get a free express lane all to myself. Not so much when I’m alone in my car, though - it’s an empty lane that could be used for traffic but isn’t.”
I’m no big fan of HOV lanes or the mandates for them, but the hell if I’m going to support handing over our freeway system to Goldman and Cintra over it.