Hi, Guest
12-07-2005, 12:42 AM
Yay or nay.
Starting next Tuesday, Hwy. 403 through Mississauga will become the first major thoroughfare in Ontario to feature carpool lanes running in both directions.
The High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, running about 14 kilometres from Hwy. 401 to Hwy. 407, cost $47 million and took two years to build.
They will ease congestion and shorten commute times, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar said today.
Presently, it takes about 19 minutes on average to travel along Hwy. 403 between Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 407. Takhar said carpoolers now will save up to 11 minutes, but adds there are other reasons to share cars, such as cutting fuel and maintenance costs in half.
HOV lanes are open only to buses or vehicles carrying at least two people, including the driver. They look like any other highway lane, except that they are marked by special signs and diamond symbols painted on the pavement. They are located in the left lane and are separated from general traffic lanes by a buffer area marked by painted white lines on the pavement. Drivers will enter and exit the HOV lane only at designated points.
"These lanes offer drivers carrying just one passenger a real advantage. By using HOV lanes, carpoolers could shorten commute times significantly during morning and afternoon rush
hour," said Takhar.
The Ontario Provincial Police will enforce the proper use of HOV lanes. Drivers caught using the lanes illegally earn three demerit points and face fines ranging from $60-$500. It will also be an offence to cross into or out of the carpool lane anywhere but the designated merge areas.
"The main purpose (is) to make maximum use of the highways," said Takhar, the MPP for Mississauga Centre. "Right now, the capacity on the highways is full. At any given time on Hwy. 403 there are 7,000 cars with only one person in it, which means at least 21,000 empty seats. So, we want to make best use of the capacity of the highway. HOV lanes will encourage people to carpool. We want to more or less reward the people who are carpooling."
If the HOV lanes are successful, the Province will look at expanding the program, said Takhar.
A portion of Hwy. 404, between Hwys. 7 and 401, will also have a carpool lane, but it runs southbound only.
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Here's where it gets fun..... If you're caught in the H.O.V. lane illegally... 500 dollars and 3 points.
Can you say government cash grab.
The government doesn't give a s**t about the traffic delays yadda yadda yadda..... It's just another oppertunity to gouge the people.
Discuss.
Are diamond lanes a good idea....or bad???
Starting next Tuesday, Hwy. 403 through Mississauga will become the first major thoroughfare in Ontario to feature carpool lanes running in both directions.
The High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes, running about 14 kilometres from Hwy. 401 to Hwy. 407, cost $47 million and took two years to build.
They will ease congestion and shorten commute times, Transportation Minister Harinder Takhar said today.
Presently, it takes about 19 minutes on average to travel along Hwy. 403 between Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 407. Takhar said carpoolers now will save up to 11 minutes, but adds there are other reasons to share cars, such as cutting fuel and maintenance costs in half.
HOV lanes are open only to buses or vehicles carrying at least two people, including the driver. They look like any other highway lane, except that they are marked by special signs and diamond symbols painted on the pavement. They are located in the left lane and are separated from general traffic lanes by a buffer area marked by painted white lines on the pavement. Drivers will enter and exit the HOV lane only at designated points.
"These lanes offer drivers carrying just one passenger a real advantage. By using HOV lanes, carpoolers could shorten commute times significantly during morning and afternoon rush
hour," said Takhar.
The Ontario Provincial Police will enforce the proper use of HOV lanes. Drivers caught using the lanes illegally earn three demerit points and face fines ranging from $60-$500. It will also be an offence to cross into or out of the carpool lane anywhere but the designated merge areas.
"The main purpose (is) to make maximum use of the highways," said Takhar, the MPP for Mississauga Centre. "Right now, the capacity on the highways is full. At any given time on Hwy. 403 there are 7,000 cars with only one person in it, which means at least 21,000 empty seats. So, we want to make best use of the capacity of the highway. HOV lanes will encourage people to carpool. We want to more or less reward the people who are carpooling."
If the HOV lanes are successful, the Province will look at expanding the program, said Takhar.
A portion of Hwy. 404, between Hwys. 7 and 401, will also have a carpool lane, but it runs southbound only.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Here's where it gets fun..... If you're caught in the H.O.V. lane illegally... 500 dollars and 3 points.
Can you say government cash grab.
The government doesn't give a s**t about the traffic delays yadda yadda yadda..... It's just another oppertunity to gouge the people.
Discuss.
Are diamond lanes a good idea....or bad???