Traffic and Carpool Lanes
California is at risk of losing a bunch of federal funding because our carpool lanes are so clogged. Caltrans is contemplating a list of unappealing options to lessen the traffic. Meanwhile, folks across the country, but especially in LA are leaving their houses earlier and earlier to try and beat the rush and make it to work in a reasonable amount of time. LADN:
Jammed by growing traffic congestion, motorists across the country - particularly in Los Angeles County and city - are leaving home earlier and earlier just to try to beat the rush and get to work on time.
In ever-lengthening commutes, last year one out of every eight drivers said they left for work every day by 6 a.m. - up from just one in nine six years ago, according to new census data released today.
In Los Angeles County, where one out of every eight commuters already left for work before 6 a.m. in 2000, the number rose to one in seven as congestion grew from 3.7 million drivers to 4.2 million.
This trend is having a negative impact on the quality of commuters lives as they spend an increasing amount of time away from their friends, family and community.
Tim Lomax, a research engineer with the Texas Transportation Institute, a research agency in College Station, Texas, said research suggests civic involvement is down in suburbs where workers have long commutes.
"After a long commute, people are less interested in going to a city council or Parent-Teacher-Association meeting," Lomax said. "(Commutes) mean time away from family and time in a stressful environment, which results in a toll on people."
CalTrans is talking about upping the $341 minimum fine for carpool lane violators and increase the CHP patrols to catch offenders. The CHP is strapped for manpower as it is and such a move may require more overtime or officers.
The Federal Highway Administration requires carpool lanes to move at speeds of at least 45 mph during rush hour. Things are so bad that the bus drivers are now complaining about the slow rates of speed. Two of the obvious solutions are to build more carpool lanes and clean up accidents faster. Here are a few other ideas they are considering, none very popular.
* Prohibit single-occupant hybrid vehicles in carpool lanes. From 2005 to February 2007, California issued permits to allow solo drivers in the most fuel-efficient cars to use the lanes. The program was so popular state lawmakers increased the program cap from 75,000 to 85,000 even though Caltrans recommended against it.
* Increase the number of people needed to form a carpool from two occupants to three. Virtually all freeways in Southern California require only two, except for the El Monte Busway on the 10 freeway, which requires three during peak hours
* Convert regular freeway lanes into carpool lanes. Caltrans tried that on the Santa Monica Freeway in the 1970s, prompting a motorist revolt, and since then it pledged to introduce carpool lanes only by adding more road space. As a result, this scenario is highly unlikely.
* Charge to use the carpool lane. This is done on the 91 Express Lanes connecting Orange County and Riverside County. Carpools with three or more occupants are charged when traveling eastbound from 4 to 6 p.m., although they receive a 50% discount off the regular toll.
Like I said, nobody really wants to do any of the above, but it may be necessary to retain federal funding, which would create even more problems. It is unsustainable to have people getting up earlier and earlier to commute.