Which makes no since. The rich travel alone, the less rich tend to travel in groups to take advantage of the HOV. Therefore, HOV is, if anything, prejudicial against the rich, regardless their race.
By making them HOT it sounds like they also let paying drivers in the lanes. If I needed to use the toll roads near where I live it be around $160 dollars a month to go 20 miles each way during high traffic. More than many can afford to pay.