During a recent public information session, NYS Department of Transportation unveiled its analysis showing that carpools with at least 2 passengers (HOV2+) add to bus lane delays and congestion in the Staten Island Expressway bus lanes. The department’s questionable decision to open up the bus lanes to cars had drawn criticism from groups like Tri-State, who argued such a move was illegal and detrimental to improving bus riders’ commutes in the borough.
The Department also found that 54% of the vehicles in the HOV2+ bus lane during the PM peak hour are single occupancy cars. There were fewer, though a significant 34%, violators in the bus lanes during the AM peak.
Due to present construction on the Verrazano, the planned bus lane expansion, and early political pressure, the lane currently allows HOV2+ in what was originally envisioned as a bus-only facility. According to the Department’s new recommendations, once the lane is completed (projection is mid 2013) through Victory Blvd., the Department will permanently reserve the lane for buses and HOV3+ only. Because of the steady high vehicle volumes on the SIE, the HOV3+ designation will operate 24/7. According to the Department’s projections, the restricted lane will remain free-flowing, while avoiding the “empty lane syndrome” that fuels calls to open the lane to more vehicle traffic.
Left unanswered was whether it will ultimately be easier to shift to HOV3+ now, rather than in three years when drivers’ expectations and behaviors will be much more entrenched. Given past pressure to allow more traffic into the bus lanes, allowing such a large gap of time will test the Department’s mettle.
Enforcement Remains Biggest Obstacle
The single biggest factor contributing to congestion in the bus lanes is, not surprisingly, lack of enforcement. The DOT has proposed constructing “enforcement areas” – essentially a section of widened median to accommodate a patrol car – within the separated lanes. Most effective, but not in the Department’s authority to implement, would be camera technology. Legislation introduced by Senator Lanza and Assemblymember Cusick would allow “the use of enforcement cameras on high occupancy vehicle and bus lanes on the Staten Island Expressway.” Similar legislation was passed in June to allow such technology to enforce existing bus lanes rules in current and future Select Bus Service corridors in the five boroughs.
The Department will be submitting a final report and application for FHWA approval in the coming months. The application will include sought after legal support for the opening of the lanes to HOVs.
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During one drive on the SIE I saw a patrol car sitting at the base of the HOV lane by the toll booth entrance to the Verrazano. He let buses go through as usual but stopped every car and while giving a ticket to one, he made the other turn around and drive back into Staten Island. If they were stupid enough to go on the HOV again, he’d be there to ticket them then. How come this can’t be standard policy? Plenty of room for patrol cars and buses went through with no problems.
I was the C.I. on the first section in 2004-06, and people should be aware that the asphalt design was based on a low Daily Axle use, because it was designed for ONLY the few hundred buses daily, NOT the thousands of cars now using it at HOV+2, or even the HOV+3 count. This will cause the pavement to fall apart a lor sooner then expected, meaning REPAVING. I do not know what the design is for the next section as far as the Daily Axle use, I would hope It was changed to take the increase in Traffic.
Jeff
[…] bus and carpool lane from Slosson Avenue to Victory Boulevard. This project would coincide with a planned conversion of the current carpool lane from requiring two people in each car to three. The second would fund a new high-tech weigh station […]
[…] bus and carpool lane from Slosson Avenue to Victory Boulevard. This project would coincide with a planned conversion of the current carpool lane from requiring two people in each car to three. The second would fund a new high-tech weigh station […]
[…] purpose of bus-only use. Once NYSDOT started allowing HOV2+ into the SIE lane, the department found that bus delays became more frequent and that 54 percent of vehicles in the HOV2+ lane were single […]
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