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Hybrid owners get HOV shot

CDOT to issue 2,000 permits for special lanes

By Todd Hartman, Rocky Mountain News

Published May 16, 2008 at 11 p.m.

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Hybrid owners will soon have a shot at traveling in HOV lanes, even if drivers are alone in their vehicle.

In a long-awaited move, the Colorado Department of Transportation is accepting applications from owners of hybrid vehicles for a permit to use the state's high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOV).

CDOT will accept applications through May 31, and then, using a lottery system, issue 2,000 permits. Applications will be accepted online, in person and through the mail. The EPA has completed a draft list of vehicles that CDOT will use to decide if a car is eligible for the program.

The notion of allowing fuel-efficient hybrids into HOV lanes dates to state legislation passed in 2003 designed to create another incentive for people to purchase more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars.

But the plan is not without critics.

Some drivers have questioned why hybrids need access to HOV lanes as an incentive five years later, with gas prices at record highs. Others complain that some hybrid SUVs may be allowed to ride the lanes even though some conventional cars, such as a Honda Civic, get better gas mileage.

Others worry the lanes could become overcrowded. In Virginia, where hybrids were allowed to use HOV lanes beginning in 2000, nearly a quarter of the cars in the carpool lanes are now hybrids. In some areas, officials are scaling back the program because traffic grew too heavy, a fate CDOT wants to avoid, said spokeswoman Stacey Stegman.

CDOT is most concerned about HOV lanes on Interstate 25. "We're reaching capacity on those," Stegman said.

The agency believes setting a limit of 2,000, and then selecting those in a lottery will ensure not all hybrid owners will end up the I-25 lanes. There are also HOV lanes on Santa Fe Drive, the Boulder Turnpike and on Colorado 82 between Aspen and Glenwood Springs.

Federal law allows certain low emission and fuel-efficient cars to use HOV lanes through Sept. 30, 2009, when the CDOT permits will expire - unless the federal government extends such use. CDOT said it reserves the right at any time to cancel permits should travel times in any of the corridors become too slow.

hartmant@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5048

Application, eligible vehicle information

* To get an application online, visit: www.dot.state.co.us/hybrids/

Or, to request an application, e-mail: info@dotstate.co.us.

* Completed applications can be mailed to the Colorado Department of Transportation, Attn: Hybrid Permits, 4201 E. Arkansas Ave., Room 290, Denver CO, 80222. To contact the department by phone call 303-757-9716.

* To view the EPA's draft list of eligible hybrid vehicles, visit: epa.gov/otaq/regs/ld-hwy/hov/drafteligiblevehicles.pdf

Comments

  • May 17, 2008

    2:28 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    scastaneda writes:

    LIKE, OH MY GOD!!!
    The sky is falling!!!

    Everybody do something, like NOW!!! Everybody do, like, anything to stop global warming, because, like, Albert Gore told me it's, like, critical and stuff.

    Like, all those used-up hybrid batteries... we could just send them into, like, outer-space or whatever, and there could be these, like, landfills on the moon and stuff. Only we could call them "Moon-Fills," because they're, like, on the moon and all.

    I mean, like, everybody knows that electricity isn't, like, you know, REAL ENERGY or anything. Like, it doesn't cost anything to charge my car battery and all, because electricity is like... well, you know... like, clean energy and stuff because it comes from wires and not from coal or anything bad like carbon or Neptunium or stuff like that...

    But anyway, you know? I think carbon is bad because... I don't know... Like, ya know??? Because it is or whatever.

  • May 17, 2008

    6:30 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    cruiser writes:

    That is ridiculous - indicating that driving a hybrid solo is better than carpooling - when in all reality, hybrids only use the "electric" while they are city driving, or likewise, stop and go traffic. Therefore, It would be a benefit to force hybrid owners to drive through shitty traffic where they can use the "electric", and then maybe we can open up the hov lane to say- the polluting semi-trucks?

  • May 17, 2008

    7:29 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    socrates writes:

    In 2003, hybrid technology needed the a boost, this law was a good idea. But, for some reason and probably breaking some kind of law, Owens chose to never implement the legislation...

    If they wanted an incentive now, it should more appropriately be based on mileage. And set a high standard. You can get hybrids now that get less than 20 mpg. And it's no longer a new technology in need of an incentive. $4 gas may be incentive enough.

  • May 17, 2008

    3:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Ayup writes:

    There is so much Hype on these hybrids, and I do not understand it... There are plenty of gas only vehicles out there that get over 30 MPG, and they weigh less than a comparable hybrid, have fewer moving parts and will not have a bunch of batteries that need replacing. My car is 15 years old, and still gets 35+ in town, and over 45 mpg on the highway. So does this mean I can have an HOV pass too? Or is this only for people willing to follow the newest fad? Just because they say hybrids are "better" it does not make them better. If EVERYONE, would do a few little things, like using lower wattage light bulbs, using those compact florescent bulbs, turning off lights when they leave the room, turning off their computers when they are gone, unplugging TVs when they are not using them (they make switches on power strips that work great for this), using the free recycling services of the garbage collection service, these simple little things would save so much more of our resources. Maybe if people do all of these things AND have a hybrid they can get an HOV pass to use solo..... Nah, HOV should be only for vehicles that have a high number of occupants...

  • May 17, 2008

    6:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    The_Punnisher writes:

    The CALIFORNICATORS found out that PIOUS lanes DO NOT WORK!!

    They are NOT issuing new PIOUS lane stickers..

    Are we behind the curve on this one, or do we have this " feel good " crap stuffed down our throats?

    I thought the SMUG ALERT episode was to make fun of Californians....

    I guess the joke's on us....

  • May 17, 2008

    8:17 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    The whole idea of HOV lanes is for HIGH occupancy vehicles. Not Lexus lanes, not motorcycles (and I ride one) and certainly not Al Bore mobiles (hybrids). The HOV lanes should ONLY allow 2+ occupants, period. However, Colorado politicians just can't pass up an opportunity to milk more money, Lexus lanes, and they don't want to get on Al Gore's bad side by not letting hybrids use them.

    Houstongolfnut has it right. If you can't fill up the HOV lanes with 2+, then give it back to EVERYONE. The tax dollars to build the HOV lanes came from everyone of us. Give it back!

    Scott