HOV lanes

The widening of U.S. Highway 95 between downtown Las Vegas and the Rainbow Curve was a major boost to the valley's economy and quality of life. But in terms of improved capacity, the half-billion-dollar project has offered less bang for the buck than area commuters would like.

The reason: two of four new travel lanes -- one in each direction -- were designated high-occupancy vehicle lanes. In exchange for accepting some federal funds for the project, the Nevada Department of Transportation restricted the use of the far-left lanes to vehicles carrying two or more people and motorcyclists -- 24 hours per day, seven days per week.

So after enduring a decade of maddening construction and inconvenience, most valley drivers realized a net gain of only one new travel lane. And the HOV lane is routinely empty for miles at a time, even during peak driving hours.

HOV lanes are another federal experiment in behavior modification. Bureaucrats decide that motorists should be punished for driving alone and rewarded for carrying additional passengers. But in city after city, motorists who lack the flexibility to have their schedule dictated by a car-pool buddy reject the carrot and endure the stick -- traffic delays in general-use lanes.

After a few months of witnessing this exercise in futility, NDOT has finally, wisely decided to reduce the hours of enforcement for the HOV lanes on U.S. 95. By the end of this week -- as soon as NDOT can get new signs installed -- restrictions will be in place only between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. on weekdays. At all other times, the HOV lanes will revert to general use.

This decision will have little impact on traffic flow during non-peak hours -- most lanes are clear enough that cars carrying two or more people don't need to take the trouble to merge all the way left, then all the way right to exit -- but it's appropriate recognition that under HOV restrictions these lanes might as well be closed off on weekends, mid-afternoons and evenings. It's far better to put them to productive use and give motorists the space they paid for.

It's encouraging that NDOT took the time to re-evaluate its HOV policy. NDOT officials should re-examine their enforcement policy in another six months and, if HOV lanes still serve as nothing more than passing lanes for speeders during rush hour, further expand their hours for general use.