Media Relations Contact:
Morgan Lyons

March 5, 2002

Take the fast lane with a friend

New DART HOV speeds commute south of Dallas

Constuction Update: Commuters start saving time Monday with the opening of the I-35E/U.S. 67 HOV lane south of downtown Dallas. All of the U.S. 67 portion of the 11-mile lane will be open at 6 a.m. The northbound access from I-35E is scheduled to open Monday, March 18. The additional time is required to complete construction around the access point. Southbound commuters will not be affected by this work. The lane is expected to service 19,000 customers each weekday.

DART opens a new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane along I-35E and U.S. 67 south of downtown Dallas to Loop 12 on March 11, completing an 11-mile HOV section that can save commuters an estimated 15 minutes roundtrip.

HOV lanes are restricted to vehicles carrying two or more riders, motorcycles and transit vehicles. Single-occupant drivers can be fined $200 for using the HOV. The new HOV lanes south of downtown Dallas are expected to ease rush-hour traffic on I-35E and U.S. 67. The lanes were constructed in two phases, at a total cost of $44.5 million.

From the south, eligible commuters may enter the northbound HOV lane at Camp Wisdom Road and at Loop 12 and exit at Loop 12 or Jefferson Street for downtown Dallas. From the north, the lanes may be entered at Houston Street in downtown Dallas or at Loop 12 and exit at I-35E, Loop 12 or Camp Wisdom Road. The southern section from Camp Wisdom Road to Loop 12 includes concurrent flow lanes operating 24 hours a day. From Polk Street, north into downtown Dallas, it becomes a barrier-separated, reversible lane that is adjusted to the flow of traffic. It serves northbound commuters during morning rush hours (6 a.m. to 9 a.m.) and serves southbound travelers in during afternoon rush hours (3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

The new system is expected to serve around 19,000 commuters daily.

View a high resolution version of the I-35E/U.S. 67 HOV map.

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