Re: Any news on incentives for Texas Hybrid Owners?
I deal with a lot of transportation planners in Houston, and that discussion is taking place. They're looking at other places where hybrids are allowed and seeing how those systems do. My understanding is that in Virginia, the popularity of single-occupancy hybrid use in HOV lanes have led to traffic problems on those facilities. That may not bode well for that discussion.
Plus, during parts of the day, you need at least three people in the car on an HOV lane or else you have to pay a toll (which is done via toll tag). I could see single-occupancy hybrid drivers possibly having to pay a toll during those periods, especially since the transit system, METRO, owns the facility and is not doing well financially. Why let SOV hybrids on for free when you can make a buck off of them, right?
Right now, METRO is in the process of selling their 25-year master plan, which has gotten off to a lousy start (like not telling people they were going to make some major changes). Probably after that's wrapped up, they'll tackle the Hybrids-in-HOV discussion. It would be cool if it went through, but I don't think anything will happen for a year on the matter.
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