In the 1970s, high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes were implemented in an effort to reduce gasoline consumption. In the 1980s, HOV lanes, or carpool lanes, were justified as a way to try to reduce emissions by getting cars off the road during peak periods. By 2005, federal support for the lanes had led to 3,000 HOV lane miles. Yet, the concept of HOV lanes, even amongst past supporters, is now widely recognized as a failure. Why?
HOV Lanes Are Either Too Full or Too Empty
Most HOV lanes suffer from “empty lane syndrome,” where the lane is underutilized.
In other cases, HOV lanes are
