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Sam Penrod ReportingThe new rules for the HOV lane, which is officially now called the Express lane, went into effect on Monday. Today, UDOT found that some people are very interested in paying $50 a month to use the new express lanes on I-15.
This morning, the 600 express tags for single drivers to drive in express lane went on sale and boy did they go fast. When online sales of new UDOT express stickers began at 8:00 this morning, it was a big rush of people wanting to drive the express lane by themselves.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "We started at 8 am with 600 and in the first 15 minutes we sold 400 of them, in the next hour another 200, and at 9:22 sold out."
UDOT sold a total of 600 passes and drivers will have to pay $50 a month to keep them. UDOT is also studying how having single riders in the express lane affects those with two or more passengers.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "Over the next couple of months, we'll be looking very closely at how traffic is flowing in and out of the points, or did we sell too money or did we not sell enough and we'll make adjustments over the next couple of months."
UDOT says the Highway Patrol is going to enforce the express lane much more than when it was the HOV lane, and that people will be fined.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "Whether you are crossing the line or just a single driver and didn't get one of those decals and try to risk it, you could be cited for a $100 fine; either way, it's the same citation."
And if you missed out getting a sticker, UDOT may offer more if the lanes can handle it or you can wait to buy those belonging to drivers who decide it's not worth it.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesman: "As more passes become available, either by us increasing the program or people canceling, we will send out an email to all those people and first come first serve off that list will be able to buy them."
The UHP is educating drivers about the double white lines more than writing tickets right now, but that grace period is only going to last another couple of weeks.
