NDOT Will Modify Hov Hours in a Pilot Program

LAS VEGAS – On Monday, Kristina Swallow, the director of the Nevada Department of Transportation (NDOT), said that the hours of operation for high-occupancy vehicles (HOVs) would be changed as part of a pilot program. This was based on early results from a multi-year study in Southern Nevada.

Starting on Monday, October 24, the new HOV hours will be from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. instead of 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new hours will be looked at over the next 18 months.

Early information from the HOV study shows that traffic on I-15 picks up quickly around 5 a.m. every day of the week and stays high until between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. each night when it starts to go down.

So, NDOT’s team of subject-matter experts decided that the data support changing the HOV hours of operation to allow single-occupant vehicles from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a week.

The multi-year HOV study uses data from RTC FAST, NDOT traffic counters, third-party data collection, and new sensors at 15 locations that are watched by a third party to find out how often HOV rules are broken.

Over the next 18 months, the study team will continue to look at the pilot’s hours of operation and evaluate the data they have collected as well as the number of accidents to see if the hours need to be changed, such as going back to being open 24/7.

When the evaluation is done, the team will make final suggestions about the permanent hours of operation.

“The pilot hours of operation are one way that NDOT has worked hard to listen to the public and find ways to improve the HOV lanes in Southern Nevada,” said NDOT Director Kristina Swallow. “These changed hours are based on data collected from cutting-edge traffic system technology, and we look forward to evaluating how well this pilot works over the next 18 months.”

HOV lanes are highway lanes that are only for cars with two or more people in them or for motorcycles. In Las Vegas, there are over 20 miles of continuous HOV lanes on U.S. 95 from the Elk Horn direct connector ramps to the Spaghetti Bowl. From the Spaghetti Bowl to Silverado Ranch Boulevard on I-15, there is a direct connect ramp from U.S. 95 to I-15.

HOV lanes can reduce travel time during rush hours compared to general-purpose lanes and can move many more people than general-purpose lanes. People who use the HOV lanes have less traffic, so they get to their destinations faster than people who do not carpool.

Also, taking the bus or sharing a ride is cheaper than driving alone daily.

There are also less stress and a more reliable way to get to work. Also, the community gains. HOV lanes use infrastructure better and can help more people than general-purpose lanes.

Credits: 2News

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