Think about the weekday morning and evening commutes. In order to use these lanes for free on the above roadways, vehicles must carry the specified number of people and be equipped with an E-ZPass Flex set to "HOV" mode. Can carpools and vanpools travel the Express Lanes for free at all times? High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Systems - Travel - Virginia If your exit isnt listed on the sign, the toll price will fall between the listed exits. To make sure that toll invoices are sent to the right address, double check that your information is up to date with the DMV. They are a tool to promote ridesharing to reduce congestion on urban interstates, the Tennessee Department of Transportation says. On the Dulles Toll Road, the only requirement is that the hybrid vehicle have a clean-fuel plate. Toll prices may rise significantly above the typical range for periods of time due to unusually heavy traffic congestion or a specific event such as a major traffic incident. The vast majority of customers drive personal passenger vehicles that pay the standard toll. If that happens, you may be charged the toll. The schedule had been altered over the summer to help ease delays from I-95 widening construction. You received a court summons because we see that your car traveled along the Express Lanes without paying the toll, and youve been identified as the registered owner of the vehicle by the DMV. You can register for periods of up to 7 days for toll-free travel. I never received my invoice by mail but have been contacted by a debt collection agency. You can avoid increasing fees by paying for your missed toll within 5 days of your trip. And the plug-in is listed among the 2012 vehicles that would qualify for Virginia clean-fuel plates just not the kind that would let a new buyer qualify for the I-66 and I-95/395 exemption. No wonder drivers are confused. Federal HOV Lane History About the Express Lanes What are the Express Lanes ? We are restricted from using any customer information collected to pursue an unpaid toll for any other purpose but the payment of outstanding tolls. Tolling is in effect from 5-9 a.m. westbound and 2-6 p.m. eastbound Monday through Friday. Tolling and HOV Rules to Begin Saturday, Sept. 24 on New 66 Express Lanes Western Section Solo drivers will need to pay a toll to access nine-mile Express Lanes segment from Gainesville to Route 28 in Centreville; HOV-2+ can travel toll-free with an E-ZPass Flex If you need to find a rideshare partner, contact TRAFFIX. And by the way, you D.C. and Maryland residents who keep asking, youre out of luck entirely. HOVrestrictions and even the direction of travel in these lanes may change depending on the day and time. To speed the processing of your application, you may fax your VSA 10 directly to the Special Registration Work Center at 804-367-6379, email it to [email protected], or mail it to. HOV lanes shall be reserved for high-occupancy vehicles of a specified number of occupants as determined by the Board or, for HOV lanes designated by a local governing body, by that local governing body. The regular speed limit is 65 miles per hour on the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes. Note that the I-66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway require all HOV-3+ vehicles to have an E-ZPass Flex switched to . HOV lanes are normally introduced to increase average vehicle occupancy and persons traveling with the goal of reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Outside operating hours, the lanes are free and open to all motorists with no E-ZPass or HOV requirements. Unfortunately, this system suffers the same Achilles heel that cripples many other systems: it falls apart when people dont respect it. What should I do? There is no change to the HOV-3 schedule. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. If we made a mistake, please give us a call at 1-855-495-9777. In that case, please move safely away from your vehicle and wait until help arrives. HOV lanes are restricted to vehicles with two or more passengers eastbound (toward Washington, D.C.) from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and westbound from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information about the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. HOV-3+ beganDec. 5, 2022. Transurban has a partnership in place with the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) to manage and operate the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes. If you get an invoice from us in the mail, itll include the toll for your trip and an administrative fee. HOV lanes reduce the use of personal resources such as time and fuel. High-occupancy vehicle lane - Wikipedia I-66 Outside the Beltway: This project would include toll lanes on I-66, in each direction from the Capital Beltway to Gainesville, Virginia. The Express lanesoperate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. How has the Eads Street interchange changed? Dulles Toll Road HOV-2 During HOV-restricted periods, HOV-2 lanes require a minimum of two people per passenger vehicle and HOV-3 lanes have a minimum of three. This change from HOV-2+ to HOV-3+ will apply across the entire I-66 corridor between Route 15 in Haymarket and the Washington, D.C. line - including 66 Express Lanes located inside and outside the Beltway - and is consistent with HOV requirements on the other Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. Administrative fees cover these costs. Exempts the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following HOV lanes: Does not exempt the vehicle from occupancy requirements on the following: Plates issued before July 1, 2011, may only be renewed or transferred to a newly purchased qualifying vehicle. On the 495 Express Lanes, please safely pull over to the left shoulder and stay in your car. Am I allowed to use the Express Lanes? The due date for your payment can be found on your invoice. Related Reading: 5 Reasons You Should Carpool. Why cant I use the Express Lanes for free? 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. outbound. Motorcycles and vehicles with Clean Fuel license plates are exempt from the HOV restriction. When youre traveling on the 95 or 395 Express Lanes, you might see overhead pricing signs. If you received an invoice from us, you can pay for it here. HOV requirements along the entire length of. Plan Your Trip to Virginia. Many lanes also have electronic message signs which display the required occupancy for using the lanes, the hours HOV restrictions are in effect, and where to enter and exit. If you want more information about GoToll go to their website to learn more. Message signs will advise if the lanes are open or closed. Effective September 30, 2019, gas/electric hybrid vehicles displaying clean special fuel plates will no longer qualify for the HOV lane use exemption unless the required number of occupants are in the vehicles or the vehicles are qualifying plug-in electric vehicles. The HOV lanes are marked with painted diamonds. Weve got you covered. The Prius Plug-in that Rahal checked out is an advanced type of hybrid that allows drivers to go more miles on electric power before resorting to gasoline, according to a review by The Washington Posts Warren Brown. Exceptions include motorcycles and hybrid vehicles with theSmart Passsticker. During HOV-restricted periods, HOV-2 lanes require a minimum of two people per passenger vehicle and HOV-3 lanes have a minimum of three. HOV restrictions are in effect weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. southbound (toward Washington, D.C.) and from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. northbound. Carpools and vanpools can travel toll-free on the Express Lanes at all times as long as they fit within our free travel guidelines. The Express Lanes offer a smoother and more predictable trip for drivers in Northern Virginia. It might fall between the exits listed on the sign or you might see it on another pricing sign later during your trip. Tolling is in effect westbound 5 - 9 a.m. and eastbound 2 - 6 p.m. Monday - Friday. You must have a total of 3 or more people in your car. Our partnership will run until 2087 for these Lanes. This website includes hyperlinks to sites neither controlled nor sponsored by VDOT or the Commonwealth of Virginia. 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. inbound. In 2009, Tennessee began letting certain cars apply for exceptions to the two-person HOV lane rule. Some vehicles have exemptions. Eligible High Occupancy Vehicles (HOVs) can use the 66 Express Lanes toll-free but must have an E-ZPass Flex set to the "HOV On" mode. already been submitted. The schedule for the I-64 Express Lanes Reversible Roadway in Norfolk is as follows: 12:01 a.m. - 5 a.m. Open Westbound to All5 - 9 a.m. Open Westbound HOV-2 & Express Lanes9 11 a.m. Open Westbound to All11 11:30 a.m. Closed to All11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Open Eastbound to All2 6 p.m. Open Eastbound HOV-2 & Express Lanes 6- 11 p.m. Open Eastbound to All11- 11:30 p.m. Closed to All (remains open Eastbound to All on Fridays)11:30 p.m. to midnight Open Westbound to All Monday to Thursday; Open Eastbound to All onFridays, Saturday:12:01 a.m. to midnight Open Eastbound to All, Sunday:12:01 a.m. to 11 a.m. Open Eastbound to All 11:00 11:30 a.m. Closed to All11:30 a.m. midnight Open Westbound to All. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes - Rules and FAQs - Travel | Virginia All other drivers will have to pay to use the toll lanes. Keep in mind that if you prefer to call a different roadside emergency service for help, you may be responsible for covering any toll costs they need to pay to reach you on the Express Lanes. The pricing signs show the cost to travel to a maximum of 3 upcoming exits. Attn: Special Registration Work Center. This application may be mailed to DMV at the address listed on the application or can be completed at dmvNOW.com. The 95 and 395 Express Lanes follow an approximate reversal schedule, which you can learn more about here. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) in Hampton Roads: Interstate 264 Virginia Beach / Norfolk Interstate 64 Chesapeake / Hampton / Newport News. Pets in Cars; Mileage Choice Program; Title and Reg. Exceptions include motorcycles and hybrid . If you dont pay for your missed toll within 5 days of your trip, well send you an invoice in the mail requesting payment of your toll plus an administrative fee. Help. Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. How can law enforcement use the Express Lanes? We dont report or use it in any way. The central concept for HOV lanes is to move more people rather than more cars.. What happens if I enter the Express Lanes while the dynamic pricing message signs are blank? New Rules Apply Clean Special Fuel License Plate Vehicles (or Hybrids) In the Middle Tennessee area (Davidson, Rutherford, Wilson and Williamson Counties), there are 121 miles of HOV lanes. Dr. Links may open in a new window. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Find current price estimates and past toll prices for any entrance or exit to the I-66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway. How do I read the digital signs above the 95 and 395 Express Lanes? 64 Express Lanes (during operating hours), 66 Express Lanes Inside the Beltway (during operating hours). There are several points where drivers can enter and exit the 95 and 395 Express Lanes from the regular lanes. If you run into a medical emergency along the Lanes, always call 911 first. The more people respect the law and the system, the greater the impact Its one traffic overall. HOV lanes are marked with the restricted lane symbol. Whats traveling like where the 95 Express Lanes and the 395 Express Lanes meet? How do you maintain free-flowing conditions on the Express Lanes? Why? The 95 Express Lanes project is a separate public-private partnership to construct and operate HO/T lanes on a 29-mile (47 km) portion of the existing reversible HOV-3 facility on I-95 and I-395. There are 2 ways to help avoid future invoices: You can dispute an invoice after entering your information in the Received an invoice? form on our website or call us at 1-855-495-9777. For your vehicle to qualify, it must be included on this list. Initially, carpoolers only needed two occupants to use the lanes for free. If you have an HOV-3+ violation, you can follow the instructions on the summons and appear in court to dispute the violation. Your one-stop source for VDOT maps, data and project info. Express lanes are toll-free for carpoolers, but also allow vehicles that don't meet the occupancy requirement, charging a toll. 66 Express Lanes - Inside the Beltway :: Using the Lanes I have a Smart Tag, not an E-ZPass. High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes - Travel - Virginia If you see another pricing sign during your trip on the 95 Express Lanes, youll lock in your rate for the next stretch of your trip after you pass under this second toll point. Thanks in advance for helping keep the Lanes safe. Why did the administrative fees on my invoice increase? On the 95 and 395 Express Lanes, pull over to the closest shoulder and stay in your car until help arrives. Please call us Monday through Friday, between 7am7pm. Yes, Smart Tag, SunPass and Peach Pass can pay for tolls on the 495, 95 and 395 Express Lanes. View the Express Lanes Terms and Conditions to learn more. I agree with Mike! Click here to find current toll price estimates and past toll prices. But commuters who went to the trouble of carpooling saw that the HOV lanes were becoming more congested because of solo drivers in hybrids. An E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex is required to use the lanes. Virginias hybrid exemption started off as a well-intentioned effort to encourage the purchase of vehicles that would be better for the environment. Those restrictions are a bit different depending on which HOV lanes a hybrid is in. New Travel Rules Drive Alone Pay a toll with an E-ZPass. For more about the 64 Express Lanes, visit www.64ExpressLanes.org. Comments and questions are welcome and may be used in a column, along with the writers name and home community. New HOV rules took effect Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, for drivers on the new Interstate 66 Express Lanes in Northern Virginia. You just need an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex to pay for your trip. FAIRFAX - Drivers traveling from the I-66 East general-purpose lanes to the 495 Express Lanes will begin using a new 66 Express Lanes flyover ramp starting Tuesday morning, Nov. 15. Alternative Fuel Vehicles and High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes Can I pay cash for tolls on the Express Lanes? Our dynamic pricing changes based on real-time traffic conditions. During HOV hours, any vehicle that has the designated number of people (HOV-2 or 3) can use the HOV lanes. Police will ticket any hybrid vehicle that does . Similarly, new hybrids, such as the Ford C-Max, plug-in electric hybrids, such as the Chevrolet Volt, and all electric vehicles, such as the Nissan Leaf, are eligible. All rights reserved. Call #77 to report an accident or hazardous conditions. The beep lets you know your E-ZPass Flex is set to HOV ON. What do I do if I received a court summons in the mail? What if I need to reschedule my court date? The new ramp is located on the right side of I-66 East just after the Cedar Lane Bridge over I-66 and about one-mile after (east of) the I-66/Nutley Street Interchange. E-mail [email protected]. Then, VDOT drives the lanes to make sure no cars are left behind. Traveling in HOV mode when you dont have 3 or more people in your car may result in a ticket from a State Trooper or being charged for the toll. Drivers who sign up for Pool Rewards can earn up to $366 for carpooling consistently. During all other times, HOV lanes are open to all passenger vehicles, except when the reversible lanes are closed. You must submit a "License Plate Application" (VSA10) to include the entire vehicle identification number (VIN) and title number. In addition to this event, there are other events in the city that will require extensive street closures that motorists should take into consideration. And, if we get returned mail from the address we received from the DMV, your information may be sent to a debt collection agency and youll need to work directly with them. Do you ever conduct maintenance on the Express Lanes? Arlington County Commuter Services (ACCS) is funded in part by grants from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), 2023 CommuterPage, a program of Arlington County, Virginia, Carpooling, Vanpooling, Ride-matching Services, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) & Express Lanes, Where to Find Transit Passes and Information, More information from Transform 66 Outside the Beltway, More about I-66 Express Lanes inside the Beltway, More information about the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project, More information about the Dulles Toll Road, More about I-495, I-95 and I-395 Express Lanes. It allows hybrid vehicles to drive in high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes without satisfying the two-passenger minimum. Theres one exception. Well lend you a helping hand free-of-charge when you: Express Assist can also alert fire rescue or police in the event of an emergency. No need for cash, means no more toll booth backups. If you dont pay your invoice, youll face increasing fines and penalties. This ends up having a ripple effect that impacts traffic and those who witness the lanes being abused and think to themselves, If those people dont give a $#!, why should I?. Express Assist, our incident response crew, is here to lend a helping hand to our customers along with first responders and emergency service providers. Head here and read sections 33.1-56.5 to learn more. The E-ZPass Flex is not available for bumper-mounted transponders. We only disclose corridor-wide travel speeds to VDOT as part of our reporting requirement. Be sure to check the HOV operating hours for Hampton Roads. Tolls must be paid with an E-ZPass or E-ZPass Flex. Thats it? Williamson Source is your personal portal to all things Williamson County. HOV lanes are marked with the restricted lane symbol. HOV lanes also have emergency shoulders which are monitored by Virginia State Police and VDOT's incident response team. Theyll all have to pay the toll unless they carpool. Monday - Friday. We welcome buses of any size to use the Express Lanes for free. Head on over to the Transurban website to learn more. Change From Hov-2 to Hov-3 on I-66 in Northern Virginia Starts Monday, Dec. 5 I-66 Express Lanes Now Fully Open Between Route 29 in Gainesville and I-495 I-95 NORTH TEMPORARY OFF-RAMP TO EXIT 133 (ROUTE 17) CLOSING OVERNIGHT FOR REPAIR AFTER VEHICLE FIRE The Traffic and. HOV lanes are restricted to vehicles with two or more passengers eastbound (toward Washington, D.C.) from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and westbound from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. More information about the Transform 66 Outside the Beltway Project. Your court fees will be listed on your court summons. HOV Operational Hours Copyright 2023, VDOT. Heres a map. But, you have to get right back on the Lanes and remember to put your Flex in toll mode so a Virginia State Police trooper doesnt stop you. How HOV Lanes Work and Why You Should Use Them Box 28148, New York, NY 10087, Missed toll (within 5 days of trip) - $1.50 fee per trip, First invoice (6-35 days after trip) - $12.50 fee per trip, Second invoice (45-74days after trip) - $25.00 fee per trip, Collections (90+ days after trip) - $100.00 fee per trip, Court (180+ days after trip) - $100, plus court fees and civil penalties set by Virginia law, Make sure your E-ZPass has funds on it and is properly mounted in your car, $100 for a second offense within one year of the first offense, $250 for a third offense within a period of 2 years of the second offense, $500 for a fourth and subsequent offenses within a period of 3 years of the second offense. This was called the Smart Pass. Express Lanes tolls are in effect 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, even if theres a technical issue with the dynamic pricing signs. This website includes hyperlinks to sites neither controlled nor sponsored by VDOT or the Commonwealth of Virginia. Before all Express Lanes entrances, youll see 2 pricing signs displaying the latest toll prices to travel to up to 3 destinations. What is the incentive to purchase those vehicles if less-efficient hybrids have HOV access but not the new electric cars. Those extra pounds do more damage to the road that we maintain. Smart Tag, SunPass and Peach Pass toll-payment transponders will also work to pay tolls. "So you do need to have an E-ZPass Flex to be able to push it into that HOV mode to get the full 100% discount" when you've got the right number of people in your car, a VDOT official said. The form shall contain the option for the operator of the vehicle to prepay the unpaid toll and all penalties, administrative fees, and costs. Rules for HOV lanes vary and are usually posted. Express toll lanes and High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes are used by those vehicles, and allow other traffic to pay a toll to use the lanes. The Virginia Department of Transportation closes all entrances to barrier-separated HOV lanes for a short time while the directions are being switched to ensure all vehicles have completed their trip out of the lanes before opening them to traffic in the opposite direction. Can I still get on the Lanes just before the 14th Street Bridge? High-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are one or more lanes of a roadway that have restrictions on use to encourage ridesharing and can reduce vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Outside the Beltway, there are multiple general-purpose lanes and one HOV lane, marked with diamonds, in each direction. VDOT Central Office 1401 E. Broad St. Richmond, Virginia 23219, 800-367-7623 (toll-free) 711 (hearing impaired), Virginia 511 Traffic InfoView real-time traffic conditions and road closures by visiting. Thats why we offer our customers a 5-day window to pay for a missed toll before we send an invoice. Access From I-66 East to 495 Express Lanes to Switch to New - Virginia Continue to travel toll-free with an E-ZPass Flex or E-ZPass classified as a bus. A red X above your lane means you should change lanes. If you exit the northbound 395 Express Lanes at Eads Street to drop off slugs at the Pentagon or Pentagon City, you can get back on the Lanes at Eads Street and go to D.C. for free, even if its just you in the car. Change on Virginia I-66 Express Lanes: HOV-3 Now in Effect We want your Express Lanes trip to be as smooth and safe as possible, so we stay on top of making improvements along the Lanes. To help make sure we can continue to give all our customers a great travel experience, we charge larger vehicles a different rate. How many people need to be in my vehicle to qualify for HOV? All rights reserved. If you received a court summons, our Customer Care team is a call away at 1-855-495-9777. No one likes being stuck in a sea of brake lights, so the Express Lanes use dynamic pricing to keep customers moving. Hours: HOV-2+ enforcement will be in effect: During operating hours, solo drivers may choose to use E-ZPass to pay a variable toll for use of the lanes, and HOV-2+ riders may travel free with an E-ZPass Flex transponder switched to HOV ON.. Note: The 64 Express Lanes are located on 8.4 miles of I-64 between the I-264 Interchange and I-564 in Norfolk. HOV lanes are traffic lanes set aside for vehicles with a minimum number of occupants. Qualifying plug-in electric hybrids are determined based on federal law. 33.2-500. Ticketing drivers going significantly slower than traffic in all but the right lane, or leaving huge gaps in front of them would also help flow traffic. This organization has a database that can help match you with riders with similar commutes. HOV/HOT Lanes Project Financial Plan Annual Update July 31, 2022 State Project Number(s): 0095-089-739, P101, B656-662, D644-653 . Why is this not the case on the 95 and 395 Express Lanes? Vehicles meeting HOVrestrictions would be exempt from the toll. Doing away with the HOV lanes (and all the money in signage, paint, enforcement) would be a good step in flowing traffic. However, to my surprise, the dealer told me the car will not qualify for high-occupancy vehicle access on Interstates 66 and 395. Northern Virginia When and where Rules and FAQs How to use Park and Ride Contact us Hampton Roads When and where Rules and FAQs How to use Park and Ride Page last modified: Feb. 22, 2023 Learn about the express lanes and how to use them here. Even though your Flex will be in toll mode, well know you carpooled to Eads Street. To speed the processing of your application, you may fax your VSA 10 directly to the Special Registration Work Center at 804-367-6379, email it to [email protected], or mail it to. Motorcycles also use the lanes for free, with or without E-ZPass.