Why Doesn’t the St. Louis Region have HOV Lanes?

HOV Lanes, short for High Occupancy Vehicle lanes, are used in most regions larger than St. Louis as well as a number that are smaller than our region. The concept is simple — designate the center lane on the interstate for buses, vehicles with 2+ people, motorcycles and in some cases, hybrids.

On my recent trip to Seattle we used the the HOV lane on I-5 when traveling North to visit a weekend cabin as well as traveling South to the Airport. Seattle’s I-5 HOV lane requires at least two persons per vehicle. Their floating bridge requires 3 or more persons to use the HOV lane.

These lanes do a couple of things. One they remind the people in single occupancy vehicles (SOVs) they could be moving at a better rate if they had carpooled with someone. It also rewards those people that do carpool or take mass transit.

This would seem like a reasonable step for the St. Louis region to consider. We have issues of congestion on our interstate highways throughout the region as well as air quality concerns.

HOV lanes should be tried throughout our region before we spend hundreds of millions of dollars on new lanes and bridges to ease congestion.

UPDATED 11/5 9AM CST:
I found an interesting review of HOV lanes from Canada. They look at HOV lanes in North America — what worked and what didn’t. This review is now eight years old so it may not be very applicable.

HOV lanes are created one of two ways – adding a new lane to the existing system or taking a lane from the current roadway. Both approaches have some drawbacks. By adding a new lane to the system you encourage more driving. By taking an existing lane you have protests from people that think highway lanes are a God-given right. Seattle’s I-5 HOV lane was originally for 3+ vehicles and showed good results from carpooling and transit ridership but due to political pressure the requirement was dropped to 2+. Carpooling dropped as did transit use.

We are already planning to add a new lane to I-64/40 from Spoede to I-170. Why not mark this as a 3+ HOV lane to try it out to see how it goes?

Committee on High Occupancy Vehicle Systems seems to be an excellent resource for information but they are clearly biased in favor of HOV lanes.

Does anyone have any arguments in favor or against HOV lanes? Speak up in the comments below.

– Steve

Reversing Trends Since WWII

I’m heading downtown in a few minutes for the First Friday Gallery & Design Walk. One stop will be modern furniture store, The Ambiente Collection, located at 10th and Locust.

I happened to be in the hell known as Manchester Road at 141 in far St. Louis County earlier today and drove past Ambiente’s former location in a reasonably new strip center. The tenant in their old space is Dirt Cheap — the beer & cigarette’s place. I love it, we get designer furniture and they get cheap smokes!

Maybe on my next visit way out there I’ll see some pawn shops or check cashing places?

– Steve

More Opinion in Current Issues of The West End Word and The Healthy Planet

If you find yourself seeking more of my commentary then look to your local news stand. I have articles in the November issue of The Healthy Planet and this weeks issue of the West End Word.

– Steve

$250 Minimum Fine in a Work Zone

This morning I got a speeding ticket for doing 56 mph in a 45 mph work zone. The minimum ticket is $250! In the past I’ve gotten a few deserved tickets but this one I intend to fight.

I entered I-55 Southbound this morning from the Broadway on-ramp. This puts you on the highway equal with Mt. Pleasant street. By Delor, two blocks later, I was pulled over.

Work crews have been resurfacing I-55 with lanes closed some of the time and not others. Sometimes it is the left lane(s) that are closed and other times the right.

The officer asked me if I knew the speed limit. I said I didn’t — that I just entered the highway. He said the speed limit was 45 mph. I asked where it was posted to which he said, “it should be posted.” Well, I agree that it should be posted but guess what — it is not posted.

Even though I was heading to an appointment in the morning I took the next exit, Bates Street. I turned back North on I-55 so I could go back to Broadway and check the on-ramp once again to see if I missed a sign telling me of the work zone speed limit.

Work was going on Northbound as well and police were ticketing there as well. Yet, the on-ramp from Bates didn’t indicate a work zone speed limit. At Broadway neither Northbound or Southbound entrance ramps indicated a work zone speed limit.

Heading South on I-55 to my appointment the first work zone speed limit sign posted was not until after I crossed River Des Peres. Returning home this afternoon in I-44 I turned Southbound on I-55. Work started around Arsenal where a work zone speed limit was posted. It seems they are posting the work zone speed limit only at the beginning of the eight mile work zone.

I had to run to Lemay as well so I continued on I-55 to the Bayless exit in South St. Louis County. When getting back on I-55 I did notice work zone signs but that was where they were starting the work. The on-ramp from Weber Road was closed but it did have a sign. The Northbound Germania on-ramp also had a work zone sign. However, the on-ramps at Loughborough did not.

The intent of special work zone speed limits is safety. So you’d think the on ramps to the area would have the work zone posted out of concern for the safety of the workers. If I were a betting man I’d say the lacks of signs is a way to get more revenue from speeding tickets.

– Steve

Saving Face in Seattle

What do you do when a beloved building is where you want to build a new 22-story high rise tower? Most developers and elected officials would assume you have to clear the existing site.

Saving a facade is not a new concept but when done well it still interests me. I think it is good to continually remind ourselves this is an option to completely razing an existing structure.

From the new architect’s website:

The new tower retains old walls facing each street but the corner element is new — a retail space. The windows in the old facade are also updated with metal canopies to help protect pedestrians from rain as they walk along the sidewalk. While not a pure restoration of the entire original envelope it is an acceptable compromise.

Architect Blaine Weber from the Puget Sound Business Journal:

The retention of the old facade as well as the use of massing to relate to the low-rise buildings adjacent to the site shows great skill. From the sidewalk you really don’t get the sense you are walking next to a 22-story tower — and that is a sign of a pedestrian friendly high rise.

– Steve