HOV lanes are a complete waste of space

To the editor:

The hot debate lately has been the federal government's success -- or lack thereof -- in creating jobs and regulating our lives. One federal initiative that is stunningly unsuccessful and stands as a glaring symbol of inefficiency: the high-occupancy-vehicle lanes on U.S. Highway 95.

We sit in bumper-to-bumper traffic at rush hour, burning fuel, and stare longingly at an open lane as we inch along. Officials with the Nevada Department of Transportation have stated in the past that HOV lanes were mandated due to the fact that federal money was used in partially funding the U.S. 95 improvements.

But NDOT officials should keep in mind that they are employed by a Nevada organization and are paid by Nevada taxpayers -- as such, they should represent the citizens who employ them and not the federal government. Their focus should be in moving traffic with the utmost efficiency, not pandering to failed "green" policies.

As it stands now, these largely idle travel lanes represent 20 percent of the carrying capacity of that stretch of road.

How can this continue to be justified?

Instead of justifying this travesty, NDOT officials should be working to get an exemption to these incredibly wasteful federal regulations and give us back the entire road we paid for in the first place.

Brian Covey

Las Vegas