Gov. Whitmer signs carpool lane bills for I-75 in Oakland County

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation enabling Michigan’s first high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on a segment of I-75 in Oakland County. This week’s edition of the Talking Michigan Transportation podcast features conversations with the project manager and an official with the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO), who offer some national perspective.

First, Mark Dubay, the Michigan Department of Transportation project manager on the segment of the Modernize 75 project, which includes the HOV lanes, explains the implementation plans and timeline. Later, Larry Dwyer, program director of operations at AASHTO, talks about the history of managed lanes and successes in other states.

Things to know about the I-75 HOV lanes:

• They will use the left lane in each direction of I-75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard. 
• They will operate as HOV lanes during peak travel times: 6 - 9 a.m. and 3 - 6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. During those times, vehicles must have at least two human occupants to legally use the lanes. 
• State and local police will monitor the safe movement of vehicles in the HOV lanes to ensure drivers have the proper number of occupants. Civil infractions will be issued to violators.
• Motorcycles, transit busses, first responders, and emergency vehicles are exempt from occupant requirements.
• Outside of those designated weekday hours, the lanes are available for all motorists regardless the number of occupants. 

Michigan joins more than two dozen other states in opening HOV lanes. This summary of state programs allowing exempt vehicle use of HOV/high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes outlines the various provisions.