As outlined in the bill, a high occupancy vehicle lane will be considered degraded if it fails to maintain an average speed of 45 miles per hour or greater at least 90% of the time during peak hours over a consecutive 180-day period. Once deemed degraded, the bill restricts lane access to selected types of vehicles in a defined priority order. This priority usage includes passenger vehicles with two or more occupants, public transit buses, and alternative fuel vehicles, among others.
Summary
House Bill 2175 seeks to amend section 28-337 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, focusing on the regulation of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in the state. The bill introduces a framework for assessing when HOV lanes become degraded due to the presence of single occupancy vehicles. Specifically, it mandates the Arizona Department of Transportation to monitor the traffic impacts of these vehicles and enforce usage restrictions based on the lane's performance metrics.
Contention
The amendment is primarily aimed at enhancing traffic flow and reducing congestion in HOV lanes, which can be adversely affected by too many single occupancy vehicles. While supporters of the bill argue that it would enforce more effective use of HOV lanes and ultimately lead to improved traffic conditions and reduced emissions, there may be concerns from commuters about the enforcement of such restrictions. Detractors might argue that it could lead to undue restrictions on individual drivers and impact public transit negatively during peak usage times.