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I've recently moved to Washington from NJ. Even in NJ, where mass transit into NYC and other high-employment areas is abundant, the extent of HOV lanes is no where near what it is here. In order for HOV to be effective, people have to be able to commute to a central area of employment from the same home community. This set of conditions just does not exist here. So, the HOV lanes remain empty while the other one or two lanes remain bumper to bumper.

The problem here is one of vision. I'm not going to complain that there is no vision. There most certainly is a vision. It's just unworkable. They have some wish to be on the site of some trendy sitcom based in Manhattan ala "Friends" or "Seinfeld".

This is absolutely delisional! We do not all live on a small narrow island with high-rises and a standard grid street layout. The Northwest is your standard west coast sprawl. My high hp car gets about 3 miles to the gallon in stop in go traffic which is absolutely killing the planet while the "save the earth lanes" go mostly empty except for the cars which by chance happen to have more than 1 occupant in them. So, I would argue that diamond lanes pour more hydrocarbons, nitrides of oxygen and carbon monoxide into the atmosphere than if we had our original roads back.

But it must be remembered, they don't give a rip about the planet. They're primarily concerned about social engineering.

They're primarily concerned about social engineering.

Totally agree, with your entire post. HOV cannot work here---it amazes me how politicians can get away with what they do!

Freegards,

LGE