Lucas Wall posted an interesting exchange in his transit question/answer column for the Chronicle earlier this week:
Q: On some downtown streets (such as Louisiana and Milam), the second lane from the right curb is designated for “buses and car pools only” during rush hour. I notice the majority of cars driving in this lane have no passengers. Why is this a restricted lane, making right-turners have to switch over two lanes? How many blocks can a one-person car drive in these two right lanes before being in violation of the law?
— Grant Elam, Houston
A: The HOV lanes, or “diamond lanes,” on downtown and Midtown streets are confusing to many drivers.
Because the Metropolitan Transit Authority used federal transit funds to help reconstruct these streets, it had to designate some lanes for buses and car pools to meet the U.S. requirements. Federal capital transit grants normally go to pay for nonroad projects such as rail lines. Houston’s project to rebuild dilapidated city-center streets heavily traveled by buses is unique.
Here’s the secret: The regulations are not enforced. The lanes are marked only to meet the federal transit requirement. As you point out, enforcing the car pool restriction on urban streets is impossible because single-occupant vehicles must use them to make right turns.
And the Chronicle wonders why conservative legislators like John Culberson (R) and Tom DeLay (R) ask detailed questions about various METRO funding requests.
UPDATE: Here’s another reason to applaud legislators who ask tough questions of transit organizations during the funding process.
