I-15 HOV rules to change Monday

For $50 a month, solo drivers can soon join those with a carpool buddy, bus pass, eco-friendly car or motorcycle who ride for free in the high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Interstate 15.

The HOV lanes will be opened to paying motorists on Sept. 1, when the Utah Department of Transportation turns them into "express lanes." Starting Monday, the Utah Highway Patrol will begin an enforcement blitz to educate the public about new rules associated with that change, including limits on where drivers can enter and exit the lanes.

"The new access points are going to be the toughest part for people to understand," said UHP trooper Jeff Nigbur Friday.

When opened, the express lanes will stretch 38 miles from Salt Lake City to Orem. At 15 points along the route, motorists will be able to enter or exit. Those points are indicated by a broken white line.

Otherwise, the express lanes will be separated from the general-purpose lanes by two double white lines. Motorists can be ticketed for crossing the double white lines. That means no more using the car-pool lane as a passing lane — a sometimes unsafe maneuver that UDOT officials say is happening far too often.

Several accidents have occurred because of motorists misusing the carpool lane, said UDOT spokesman Nile Easton. Most were small fender-benders.

"By restricting those points to specific locations, we should see an improvement in safety," Easton said.

Dennis Chidester of West Valley City said he regularly sees drivers without passengers zipping in and out of the lanes to pass slower traffic. He spends a lot of time on I-15, delivering caskets to funeral homes all along the Wasatch Front.

Chidester worries that people won't understand — or care about following — the new rules for using the express lanes. "I just don't see that happening," he said.

Those caught violating the rule will pay a fine of about $100, according to UDOT and UHP.

UDOT has already re-striped the carpool lanes in Salt Lake County. Re-striping will be done by the end of August in Utah County. There isn't an access point at every freeway exit, so motorists will need to get familiar with those locations so they don't get stuck in the lane and pass their intended exit, Easton said.

"Go out, drive it, get familiar with it and plan ahead," he said. "Once people get used to it, it's going to flow a lot better."

Other new rules should be fairly simple, according to Easton: Make sure you have a passenger in the car or a current express-lane decal on your front or back window.

UDOT will begin selling decals to solo drivers who want to use the carpool lane on Thursday this week. Only 600 will be sold, beginning at 8 a.m. Those interested can use a VISA or MasterCard and buy the decals online at: expresslanes.utah.gov.

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