Changes To ZipperLane Ridership Requirements To Increase Incentive To Carpool
The State Department of Transportation plans to change the minimum ridership requirement for the H-1 Freeway ZipperLane and the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane from two to three persons per vehicle. The change takes effect with the morning commute on July 8, 2008. The three-person ridership requirement is intended to encourage more commuters to carpool in an effort to relieve traffic congestion on O‘ahu.
HONOLULU -- The State Department of Transportation (DOT) plans to change the minimum ridership requirement for the H-1 Freeway ZipperLane and the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane from two to three persons per vehicle. The change takes effect with the morning commute on July 8, 2008.
The three-person ridership requirement is intended to encourage more commuters to carpool in an effort to relieve traffic congestion on O‘ahu.
“As more people choose to carpool, it is important to provide them with incentives to continue to do so,” said state transportation director Brennon Morioka, who noted Hawai‘i already has one of the highest rates of carpooling in the country.
“Carpooling is one of the fastest and least expensive ways to reduce traffic congestion. This change in the ZipperLane ridership requirement will reward those who choose to carpool by giving them a less crowded lane to use to get to work,” said Morioka.
The ZipperLane was designed to move more commuters in multi-rider vehicles, like carpools, vanpools, and buses, as compared to general purpose highway lanes.
“By increasing the minimum ridership requirement, we can move more people in fewer cars and in less time,” said Morioka. “Carpooling also helps commuters save on the amount of money they spend on gasoline.”
The new ridership requirement will apply to any vehicle entering the ZipperLane and the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane during regular hours of operation from 5:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. on weekdays, except on state holidays. The ZipperLane runs along the H-1 Freeway from Waikele to the end of the Airport Viaduct and connects with the Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane, which runs from Kalihi to downtown Honolulu.
The minimum ridership requirement was originally three persons per vehicle, when the ZipperLane first opened in 1998. The requirement was reduced to two persons per vehicle in the summer of 2005; however, the reduction resulted in increased congestion in the ZipperLane, providing minimal benefit to carpoolers.
Motorcycles will still be allowed to use the ZipperLane and Nimitz Highway Contraflow Lane.
Prior to the policy change on July 8, the department will remind the driving public about the new ridership requirements via the media and on its website at www.hawaii.gov/dot.
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