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Sam Penrod ReportingChanges are coming to the new HOV express lanes on I-15. UDOT says it is going to make some modifications to the lanes, as well as sell more passes for solo drivers.
One of the changes will be to add two more areas in Utah County, where drivers can get in and out of the Express Lane. And there are other changes being made, after UDOT got feedback from drivers on the new setup.
For nearly a month now, the new HOV lanes have been in operation. The biggest changes have been those double white lines, which drivers can't cross except where they turn dotted. However, UDOT says many drivers felt it wasn't enough room for them to safely get in and out of the Express lane, so UDOT will start extending them by 1,000 feet beginning next week.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesperson: "That was the concern that people would come up on the their point and they felt the 2,000 feet wasn't enough space to get merging back into traffic. And so with an extra 1,000 feet we think they'll have enough space to do so."
Another concern from drivers was knowing where the in and out areas were, for the particular exit they wanted to get off at. So UDOT will add signs alerting drivers to when they need to get out of the HOV lane.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesperson: "People wanted signs that would actually tell them which point do they get out of to access different interchanges and we actually found a way. The problem was being able to actually fit the text on the signs because they are in the median, they have to be a certain width. It was difficult, but we've got a working worked out and those signs will be going up as well."
UDOT believes, after a few weeks of 600 drivers paying $50 dollars a month to drive in the express lane, is working, and that there is room for another 500 cars without causing any congestion in the HOV lane.
Nile Easton, UDOT Spokesperson: "Seeing one of those people with a sticker is almost a rare sighting, but the people who are using it really seem to appreciate the program. The carpool lane is still working as it was intended. People who are carpooling still get the value for free and then we have started to see some improvement in the general lanes as well."
UDOT expects that the additional 500 passes will go on sale around October 1st. The sale will happen on UDOT's website and will be first come, first serve.
