DART News Release
Media Relations Contact: July 30, 2007 First Section of I-30 West Managed HOV Lane Opens July 31 DART Kicks Off 50-mile HOV Lane System Expansion Beginning Tuesday, July 31, ride-sharing commuters can travel quicker on the first six miles of a new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane that eventually will stretch between Dallas and Fort Worth on Tom Landry Freeway (I-30). 
Koorosh Olyai, DART's assistant vice president of Mobility Programs Development, said the new lanes will go a long way to help the region meet EPA air quality standards. "The clock is ticking. We must comply with federal air quality improvement requirements soon or risk very real sanctions such as withdrawal of federal funds for transportation projects," Olyai said. In 2008, the I-30 lanes will become the region's first managed HOV facility, allowing access to single-occupant vehicles for a fee. Additional phases of this project will include facility improvements, such as widening of bridges and improved access to better serve the commuters. Eventually, the lanes will operate 20 hours a day and extend from I-820 in Fort Worth all the way to downtown Dallas. More New HOV Lanes coming this fall. I-30, from Jim Miller Road to East of I-635 (LBJ Freeway). Thanks to this six-mile extension, I-30 will soon feature HOV lanes all the way from downtown Dallas, past LBJ Freeway, to Northwest Drive in Mesquite. Two more Barrier Transfer Vehicles (BTVs) or "zipper machines" -- like the ones used on the current I-30 HOV lane -- have been purchased to help with the expanded operation. U.S. 75 (Central Expressway), from I-635 (LBJ Freeway) to Exchange Parkway in Allen. The HOV lane will extend 14 miles northward and features a direct "connector" between the HOV lane on LBJ Freeway and the new Central Expessway HOV lanes, enabling motorists to transfer easily from one to the other. The top level of the "High Five" interchange is dedicated to HOV lane usage only. I-635 (LBJ Freeway), from U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) to I-30. Opening in the fall, this 14-mile extension will roughly double the length of HOV lanes in the LBJ corridor, one of the nation's busiest freeways. Call 214-979-1111 for more information on using the new lanes or visit www.DART.org/HOV. -- 30 -- |
Translate