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Jed Boal ReportingWe'll see a major change on I-15 in the month ahead that will impact the way we all drive the freeway from Salt Lake to Orem.
Utah's carpool lanes become Express Lanes September 1st. Solo drivers will purchase passes to ride in the lanes with carpoolers. But whether you're carpooling, or paying for the privlege, you'll need to follow a couple of new rules.
You'll start to notice a new double white stripe on I-15 as UDOT crews prepare for the change from High Occupancy Vehicle lanes to Express Lanes.
August 10th, solo drivers can purchase $50 Express Lane decals for their cars. They can start to use them in September. 600 passes will be available, and there's plenty of interest.
Bethany Eller, UDOT: "The carpoolers have expressed concerns. They want to make sure there's a benefit. By selling only 600 passes, they'll still be able to maintain freeway speeds in that lane."
Carpoolers, buses, motorcycles and clean fuel burning vehicles can still drive in the lane free.
Crews will re-stripe the 38-mile corridor with a double white line that creates a two-foot buffer between the Express Lanes and the regular lanes.
It's illegal to cross a double white line. That means you can only enter or exit the Express Lanes at 13 specific locations that will have white dotted striping. Signs a half-mile before these zones will let you prepare to get off.
For the next month we can still enter and exit the Express Lane wherever we like. Starting September 1st, there will be extra troopers out to enforce the new rules.
Revenue from the passes pays for two state troopers for Express Lane enforcement.
Bethany Eller, UDOT: "The lane will be safer because we won't have as many violaters, people cutting into the lane and using it as a passing lane. That's one of the key problems we're seeing on I-15 right now."
UDOT expects some curiosity, confusion and misconception to exist about how the new lanes will work, but it won't take long to figure it out.
There are periodic overnight lane closures during the restriping. You can find all the information you need on a website dedicated to the Express Lanes.
