Are carpool lanes a viable alternative to congestion pricing? I have seen these lanes in a couple of different formats. Some are strictly high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes that require all cars to have 2 or more occupants to use the lane (some cities also allow for motorcycles, buses, and/or alternative fuel vehicles to use the lanes with only a single occupant). Other carpool pool lanes allow either HOVs or toll-pass holders to use the lanes for a fee. This fee can also be tied to surge-type pricing to incentivize people to either carpool or take mass transit during high-congestion periods. It seems a more targeted strategy like this could be more palatable to the public than a blanket congestion charge that hits everyone, even carpoolers.
I don't know enough about the issue to say for sure. I can imagine that a combination of solutions could be helpful (up to a point; too many could cause confusion). I would bet that studies of the number of drivers who currently commute vs. those who drive alone would be helpful. Plus NYC would have to determine whether taxis, ubers, etc. could use the HOVs.
Are carpool lanes a viable alternative to congestion pricing? I have seen these lanes in a couple of different formats. Some are strictly high-occupancy-vehicle (HOV) lanes that require all cars to have 2 or more occupants to use the lane (some cities also allow for motorcycles, buses, and/or alternative fuel vehicles to use the lanes with only a single occupant). Other carpool pool lanes allow either HOVs or toll-pass holders to use the lanes for a fee. This fee can also be tied to surge-type pricing to incentivize people to either carpool or take mass transit during high-congestion periods. It seems a more targeted strategy like this could be more palatable to the public than a blanket congestion charge that hits everyone, even carpoolers.
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I don't know enough about the issue to say for sure. I can imagine that a combination of solutions could be helpful (up to a point; too many could cause confusion). I would bet that studies of the number of drivers who currently commute vs. those who drive alone would be helpful. Plus NYC would have to determine whether taxis, ubers, etc. could use the HOVs.
View this comment in the discussion thread