The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and VIA Metropolitan Transit announced today that the region’s second high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane is open and will offer drivers with passengers a designated lane to bypass regular traffic. The Interstate 10 westbound HOV lane is open to traffic from La Cantera Parkway to FM 3351 (Ralph Fair Road).
This is the first of three VIA-managed HOV corridors that were built in partnership with TxDOT. The second is expected to open on U.S. Highway 281, from Loop 1604 to north of Stone Oak Parkway, and a third running from north of Stone Oak Parkway to Borgfeld Road in 2023. They are designed to target high-traffic corridors with an alternative lane for multi-passenger and emergency vehicles.
“We are excited to open the second HOV Lane in Bexar County and bring much needed congestion relief to one of the busiest corridors in the state,” TxDOT San Antonio District Engineer Mario Jorge. “The opening of HOV lanes is a culmination of several years of community engagement, planning and construction and just one of many projects we are delivering to prepare for the future growth of our region.”
HOV lanes are exclusively reserved for vehicles carrying two or more passengers, including buses, carpools, vanpools, motorcycles, emergency response and law enforcement vehicles. They are designed to encourage ridesharing, decrease commute times, reduce highway traffic, alleviate congested areas, and reduce air pollution—all goals of VIA’s Keep SA Moving Plan designed to improve public transportation options in the region.
This is the first of three VIA-managed HOV corridors that were built in partnership with TxDOT. The second is expected to open on U.S. Highway 281, from Loop 1604 to north of Stone Oak Parkway, and a third running from north of Stone Oak Parkway to Borgfeld Road in 2023. They are designed to target high-traffic corridors with an alternative lane for multi-passenger and emergency vehicles.
“We are excited to open the second HOV Lane in Bexar County and bring much needed congestion relief to one of the busiest corridors in the state,” TxDOT San Antonio District Engineer Mario Jorge. “The opening of HOV lanes is a culmination of several years of community engagement, planning and construction and just one of many projects we are delivering to prepare for the future growth of our region.”
HOV lanes are exclusively reserved for vehicles carrying two or more passengers, including buses, carpools, vanpools, motorcycles, emergency response and law enforcement vehicles. They are designed to encourage ridesharing, decrease commute times, reduce highway traffic, alleviate congested areas, and reduce air pollution—all goals of VIA’s Keep SA Moving Plan designed to improve public transportation options in the region.
“Our relationship with TxDOT over the years has been focused on providing enhanced, long-range transit options that help address the transportation needs of a growing population,” VIA President/CEO Jeffrey C. Arndt said. “HOV lanes are the latest outcome of that productive partnership and we look forward to further expansion of the HOV system as we work to keep San Antonio moving.”
Additional benefits for HOV lanes include reducing the traffic burden on highways and reducing the number of vehicles on the road to help cut down on the extent of exhaust emissions in our environment.
Upon the completion of currently planned HOV corridors, there will be 14 miles of HOV Lanes with one lane each way for a total of 28 lane-miles: I-10 W (5 miles); US 281 N – Phase I (3 miles); and US 281 N – Phase II (6 miles).
Using the HOV lanes will not require sign-ups, special car tags or fees. Signage will be posted with the “HOV 2+ Only” to help commuters identify the HOV lanes. They will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. HOV lane passenger regulations will be enforced by the San Antonio Police Department. For more details about the Bexar County HOV lanes managed by VIA, including maps highlighting their specific locations, visit VIAinfo.net/HOV.