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High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes

A Guide to DART's HOV Lane System

Special Operating Hours for the Tom Landry Freeway (I-30) HOV Lane, May 16-22 and May 25
Central Expressway (US 75) HOV Lane Alert, Effective May 6-9 and May 12-16
Houston St./Jefferson St. Viaducts Reconstruction Will Close the Southbound I-35E/US67 HOV Lane Entrance @ Jefferson St., Effective Mar 10, 2013
NOTICE TO DRIVERS: HOV Lanes Along LBJ Closed for LBJ Express Project
Effective Mon, Dec 17, 2012: Access to I-635 HOV lanes change

HOV it!

HOV Riders image Anyone who's driven around the metroplex during rush hour knows a sad truth: It's lonely in bumper-to-bumper traffic.

The fact is, you have more fun when you share a ride in a High Occupancy Vehicle lane. Just like it takes two to tango, it also takes at least two people to use an HOV lane.

These specially designated lanes have been designed for eligible vehicles with two or more persons, or for motorcycles. Note: Hybrid vehicles with single occupants are not allowed in HOV lanes.

Eligible vehicles include passenger cars, pickup trucks or vans carrying the specified or greater number of persons, law enforcement vehicles, buses and motorcycles. Prohibited vehicles include trucks with more than two axles or having a gross weight capacity of five tons or more and vehicles towing trailers.

How to HOV

HOV Freeway Sign image   Look for these signs, which designate where HOV lanes begin.

  Find the HOV entrance. When it's safe to do so, merge into the HOV lane.

  Keep your final destination in mind since exits from HOV lanes are limited. Be aware, you may have to exit prior to your destination.

HOV Lane Locations








Why HOV it?

HOV Lane imageJust look at the nice things that happen when you share a ride.
  • Faster, more efficient commutes
  • Shared fuel costs
  • Reduced congestion
  • Fewer vehicle emissions
  • Less wear and tear
  • Less stop and go traffic
  • More time with friends
  • Cleaner air for everyone

Smoothing out your ride.

Courtesy patrols constantly monitor the HOV lanes, keeping them free of debris, performing maintenance, providing motorist assistance and handling incidents or accidents.

DART and the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) also have a high-tech facility to keep traffic moving efficiently: the DalTrans Transportation Management Center.

This facility uses cameras to gather real-time, up-to-the-minute traffic information and then communicates this to drivers through dynamic message signs and lane control signals.

Putting you in the fast lane.

The region's current HOV lane network is 75 miles, giving an extra edge to commuters sharing a ride. Now you can blow past cars in congested general lanes, bypass traffic jams and arrive at your destination much faster.

HOV resources

HOV Hotline  214-749-2819
DART Customer Service  214-979-1111

Holiday Closures:
The following HOV lanes are closed on the observed holidays for New Year's Day, MLK, Jr. Day, President's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day

  • I-30 East (East R.L. Thornton)
  • I-30 West (Tom Landry Freeway)
  • The reversible S-ramp at the southern end of the I-35E (Stemmons) HOV lane
  • The direct connector ramp between the US 75 and I-635 HOV lanes
  • The section of the I-35E/US 67 (South R. L. Thornton/Marvin D. Love) HOV lanes from downtown Dallas to Loop 12
The remaining portion of the I-35E (Stemmons) HOV lanes, the I-635 (LBJ) HOV lanes, the US 75 (Central Expressway) HOV lanes, and the I-35E/US 67 HOV lanes from Loop 12 to Camp Wisdom Road are open 24 hours a day as usual.

HOV Lanes Along LBJ Closed for LBJ Express Project

  • Eastbound HOV beginning east of Luna Road and extending east of Hillcrest Road.
  • Westbound HOV beginning east of Hillcrest Road and extending east of Josey Lane.
The closure is one of the first steps in the complete reconstruction of the corridor, now known as the LBJ Express.

The five-year reconstruction project will include reconstruction of frontage lanes and main lanes on I-635 between I-35E and US75/Central Expressway, and the addition of managed toll lanes on both I-635 and I-35E, between Loop 12 and I-635.

Effective Mon, Dec 17, 2012:
  • Eastbound I-635 HOV drivers will enter the HOV lane just east of the High Five near Greenville.
  • Southbound US 75 HOV drivers who want to go west on I-635 HOV lanes need to exit to US 75 near Midpark, exit onto the frontage road and follow the signs to go west on I-635 after going through signal lights.
  • Eastbound I-635 HOV drivers who want to go north on US 75 need to exit at Coit, go through the next two signal lights, turn north on the frontage road and follow signs to enter the US 75 HOV lane at Midpark.

View more information about the LBJ Express project at www.lbjexpress.com.
(Opens in a new window)


HOV Lane image
HOV lanes are a joint project of Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) and
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT).

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