H.O.V Is Pain In Neck
I have, of course, driven on Central Expressway as it nears the High Five many, many times since the H.O.V. lanes have been there, but not until yesterday, when Tim, Zac, and I went on a mini-field trip, have I actually used the H.O.V. lanes in question. For months and months, my dad has complained about a) the lanes, and b) the fact that I have not called attention to them in print or online. I can now see why he’s so upset.
The H.O.V. lanes seem like a nuisance and an afterthought. I won’t get into their efficacy in general, as I’m sure people have plenty of opinions and Google searches to back them up. But specifically on north- and southbound Central, they seem silly. You have to know about them far in advance to be in the right lane to find them. And then, once you’re in the H.O.V. lane, it takes you off of Central Expressway. You have to drive on the frontage road and then re-merge. It’s like you’re being punished for riding in the carpool lane. And really, riding as a passenger with Tim at the wheel, in control of the radio and pseudo control of the car (iPhone texting plays a big role in his driving), is punishment enough.
17 Comments to “H.O.V Is Pain In Neck”
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I’ve never seen how to get onto, or off, the Central HOV lanes for that matter. I’ve always assumed the people actually driving on them were from another Stargate or dimension.
I’m with you. I got stuck on that once going north and went all the way past the George Bush. I was already late to where I was going and had to turn around. Took 24 miles out of my way. I was pissed!
Is it safe to run over the white cones that keep you in that lane??
The intent of HOV lanes is to incentive ride-sharing. That sounds great, but doesn’t work. The only times I’ve ever been in the HOV lane are when I happen to have someone in my car, not because of some intentional choice to save time. The HOV lanes should all be converted to either free lanes or at least HOT lanes, which allow a single driver the option of paying to use the lane, thereby utilizing the capacity in the lane.
James, I wouldn’t call it “safe” to run over the white sticks that intend to corral people in the HOV lane, but I will say that they bend…and break. Quite easily.
From what I’ve seen, the most popular way to get around them is to wait for a section that’s already blown to shatters, come to a complete stop, and make sure to use your turn signal when changing lanes into oncoming traffic.
I agree that Central’s HOV system seems like a huge, stupid afterthought. It’s not logical at all, when one considers where most of the traffic is coming from (Richardson & Plano) and where they’re headed (TI, downtown). In fact, it takes a person longer to go from southbound Central to Westbound 635 if they’re in the HOV lane than if they were in regular traffic (because they have to sit through a light at Coit Rd before merging onto 635).
Let me think……isn’t this the same TXDOT that is planning the Tollway in the Trinity River Park?
And the TXDOT that is going to build a highway from Mexico to Canada through Texas?? Now THAT would be an HOV ride!!!
Yep. The same TXDOT that thought funneling 6 lanes into two at the 183 and loop 820 interchange was a great idea. That massive contruction job took years and accomplished precisely, zero.
Here’s the scoop for the tourists:
Northbound - you get on at Midpark, if and only if you know that’s where the entrance is located. OR, you can get on in Plano between Park and Parker. You can’t get on or off anywhere in Richardson. Did Richardson just become a red-headed step child to TXDOT?
Southbound - you get on in Allen, mostly because you thought you were in the left lane and suddenly found yourself blocked in by the ‘bats’. You can also get on in Plano between Parker and Park, but then you’re stuck there until you’re suddenly on the service road at the High Five, like Adam said.
The HOV lane in Lewisville/Carrollton/Farmers Branch is a much better solution. It has multiple entrances and exits and is only “managed” by double white lines.
Two words: Koorosh Olyai
First of all, the HOV lanes are a product of DART and not TxDot. They are about mass transportation alternatives, like the light rail, designed to get more people out of their cars and help restore our air quality to acceptable standards.
It seems to me that people here want their HOV lanes designed as poorly as their freeways, which are absolutely horrendous. Controlled access highways are not supposed to be high speed alternatives to other motorways. Their intent is supposed to be to get motorists long distances in less times. A controlled access roadway designed for this purpose should have exits and entrances no closer than 3- to 5-mile intervals, not every quarter mile to mile like you see here. North Central Expressway, for example, between LBJ and downtown should only have exits and entrances at Loop 12 and Mockingbird before a general downtown exit. That would solve much of the congestion problem on that roadway now and restore the concept of these types of roads to their original intented purpose.
Most of the HOV lanes here are going to be slowly converted to managed lanes in which SOVs will be able to use them at a price that will vary with the level of congestion.
My main concern with the North Central HOV lane is that it doesn’t go far enough. I begin my morning commute near the High Five but the HOV lanes end less than a third of the way to my office.
I also wonder why no such concerns have been raised about the I30 east HOV which is more rigid with its concrete barriers. The complaints registered here sound more NIMBY than anything else.
Yeah, Pete - what you said, but they’re also supposed to be FAST. This is Dallas, not Atlanta. I don’t care if you have 12 people in your car, you’re only going 45mph. If you’re not going to travel at least 70mph in the HOV lane, then GET OUT!!!
If you are only going 70… you should be in the slow lane people!
Pete, I suppose I don’t understand what you mean when you say, “should have exits and entrances no closer than 3- to 5-mile intervals, not every quarter mile to mile like you see here.” But I do like your idea of an HOV lane with exits and entrances at Loop 12 and Mockingbird before downtown. Brilliant! If only the Dart folks would have considered that people actually drive south of the High Five…
Which begs the question - how, exactly, does Dart enforce the 2+ rule for the HOV lane? Would they just drive next to you until you exit…whoops! That would put you on the access road and them in the far left lane. Never mind.
Ahhhhhh the HOV lane…definitely not to be confused with The HOVA…who was here this weekend and gave an amazing concert.
There’s a silver lining to all stories…even if you have to make them up.
When DART first put the HOV lanes on U.S. 67, the way the DART people explained things sounded as if I would get to my office 15 minutes before I left my house.
That would be cool It’snotpersonal… if I would get to my office 15 minutes before I left my house… I would still be in the shower…:)
If I could get to my office 15 minutes before I left my house, I would arrive at my workplace groggily coming to conciousness in the clothes and shoes I wore yesterday, lurching in a start of horror and self-disgust, half-on and half-off the sofa (presenting an assuredly erroneous impression of humping), recoiling at my own stench, croaking in blind rage and confusion through a parched mouth, appealing to the Lord profanely and breaking wind as a defiance of last resort.
Again.