Karen Morgan's SB-38 proposal

[SkiWrex]

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9426070

Sen. Karen Morgan, (D)Salt Lake City, is sponsoring SB 38, which would open the lanes outside of 6-9 a.m. and 4-7 p.m. Those rush hour times would be reserved for motorists who pay $50 a month to use the lane.

Morgan tells the Deseret News she's proposing this because of public sentiment. She says she's received a number of e-mails and calls from people upset that they paid taxes for the HOV lane, yet they can't use it without paying a monthly fee.

Currently drivers must wait for dotted lines to enter the HOV lane. Morgan's bill would make the lane open for traffic to enter or leave at any point.

Morgan also has requested that the state halt a $14 million electronic tolling system because the project is too expensive.

I think it's a good idea, since 99% of other major cities in the country already open their HOV lanes in non traffic hours. And that double line no cross rule is absolutely worthless. I actually talked to Karen Morgan about this and she was telling me she's getting vicious opposition from UDOT over this...hmmm wonder why.

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[Momosaurus WRX]

This is great. Coming from Arizona myself, I love this. I think it would be better if they also did something where a limited number of people who apply for an "Alternative fuel" license plate can use the hov lane freely. Arizona did this, and it moved a ton of people to sell their huge gas guzzlers and get hybrids (to save the air, not necessarily the environment. thats a different argument about batteries). I think this would be a great idea, especially in Salt Lake City, the air has gotten so bad.

[fourmicah]

Originally Posted by SkiWrex

And that double line no cross rule is absolutely worthless.

Couldn't agree more!

Originally Posted by SkiWrex

I actually talked to Karen Morgan about this and she was telling me she's getting vicious opposition from UDOT over this...hmmm wonder why.

HMM?

[pumpkyn]

Originally Posted by SkiWrex

I think it's a good idea, since 99% of other major cities in the country already open their HOV lanes in non traffic hours. And that double line no cross rule is absolutely worthless. I actually talked to Karen Morgan about this and she was telling me she's getting vicious opposition from UDOT over this...hmmm wonder why.

just like how i loved it in PHX

[Euclid]

I personally like the idea of thecurrent "you can only get in and out during the dotted lines." If you want to get off on 106th S, you need to get out of the HOV by 90th. This gives you plenty of time to get over to the right and off the freeway, instead of being 100' from the exit and go "OH CRAP!" and just bail over 5 lanes of traffic to get off.

But people aren't bright enough to get this concept and think ahead for one second so they get pissed about it.


To the point of the article though, I like the idea of being able to use them during off hours.

[ashergrey]

Originally Posted by SkiWrex

I actually talked to Karen Morgan about this and she was telling me she's getting vicious opposition from UDOT over this...hmmm wonder why.

UDOT will fight tooth and nail against anyone trying to stop electronic tolling because there's a nationwide push to move from gasoline tax-based transportation funding to congestion-pricing billing. Gas tax revenues are too volatile, while pay-per-mile is seen as a more "fair" way to support the infrastructure. The first step in implementing the change in Utah is to move the HOV lanes to electronic metering. It establishes it in people's minds.

Originally Posted by Euclid

I personally like the idea of thecurrent "you can only get in and out during the dotted lines." But people aren't bright enough to get this concept and think ahead for one second so they get pissed about it.

I think they get it, they just don't care because it's obvious to anyone who drive's I-15 along the Wasatch Front that enforcing the rule is not a priority for UHP. They'd learn real quick if there were enough troopers to put the fear of a ticket into people's heads.

[Euclid]

Originally Posted by ashergrey

I think they get it, they just don't care because it's obvious to anyone who drive's I-15 along the Wasatch Front that enforcing the rule is not a priority for UHP. They'd learn real quick if there were enough troopers to put the fear of a ticket into people's heads.

From reading the comments on ksl.. I'm not sure a lot of people fully understand its purpose. But then again, the people who comment on ksl are usually the lowest denominator.

[ashergrey]

Originally Posted by Euclid

people who comment on ksl are usually the lowest denominator.

True that.

[neko]

...and no one from out of state can understand what the crap you guys have painted all over your roads or how to use them.

Good lord, when it takes a booklet to explain every lane on the road and when to use it, i think we've gotten the gov't too involved.

[ashergrey]

Except the double white line rule is mandated by the U.S. Federal Highway Administration.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/services/p...2090/index.htm

[medamullet]

Originally Posted by neko

...and no one from out of state can understand what the crap you guys have painted all over your roads or how to use them.

Good lord, when it takes a booklet to explain every lane on the road and when to use it, i think we've gotten the gov't too involved.

If a person can read they shouldn't have a problem. The rules are printed on big sgins all along the freeway

Rules:

1. DO NOT CROSS DOUBLE WHITE LINE (they even have signs to tell you what exits are coming up to prepare to get out of the HOV lane)

2. NO TRAILERS IN LEFT @ LANES

3. HOV ONLY

[Euclid]

How am I supposed to read a sign when I'm too busy talking on my phone or texting or yelling at the kids in the back seat?

[Not-EWRX]

Originally Posted by medamullet

If a person can read they shouldn't have a problem. The rules are printed on big sgins all along the freeway

Rules:

1. DO NOT CROSS DOUBLE WHITE LINE (they even have signs to tell you what exits are coming up to prepare to get out of the HOV lane)

2. NO TRAILERS IN LEFT @ LANES

3. HOV ONLY

You have to look at it from the Idaho-ian point of view

1. Don't cross that there line, if that there line goes dotted, you can cross.

2. No houses in left lane

3. Only

[r8r4life]

Originally Posted by Euclid

How am I supposed to read a sign when I'm too busy talking on my phone or texting or yelling at the kids in the back seat?

You forgot adjusting the screen so all the kids can see the movie that is playing in the car.

[medamullet]

Originally Posted by r8r4life

You forgot adjusting the screen so all the kids can see the movie that is playing in the car.

that's what cruise control is for

[azn2nr]

thats a great idea. put more lax rules to fix the rules that arent followed now anyways.

stupid stupid idea. oh and if there is a congestion charge that is implemented im goin back to the motherland.

[neko]

I wasn't really implying that SLC is the only place with HOV lanes, as much as that its funny that it requires all sorts of laws and fees and amendments to operate them effectively. Of course, the worst part is that every city/state seems to have different laws for using them anyway.

Then again, I've always marveled that people can't seem to figure out even a 2 lane divided hwy in the first place... You know, cruise in right, pass on left. pretty simple, right?

What always made me laugh: "high occupancy vehicle"? I mean come on, my MR2 qualifies. It seats two... maximum. I would never call 2 a high number of people in a car. But I guess calling it the "More Than One" lane sounded silly.

[Gonz#75]

I wish there were a "citizen's ticket" for people that move in and out of the HOV lane. That is one of my pet peeves and every time I see it I want to crash into that bastard so they know the rule is for real.

[UT_Evo]

Originally Posted by Not-EWRX

You have to look at it from the Idaho-ian point of view

1. Don't cross that there line, if that there line goes dotted, you can cross.

2. No houses in left lane

3. Only

Oh, so what we should do is build a wall for the HOV lane like they have in CA... Then maybe the idiots can understand...

There are a ton of stupid rules that I don't expect everyone to know (like it is illegal not to yield to faster traffic in the left lanes, even if they are speeding).

But seriously, there's giant signs all over the place that say "DO NOT CROSS DOUBLE WHITE LINE"

Maybe we should paint them yellow... that seems to work better in other states... Course... I've never been anywhere where anyone does the "last-minute-5-lane-change-to-exit."

Seriously, Utah drivers are the worst. I've been to Vegas tons of times, they are much more aggressive than here. But they know what they are doing. If we could take Cali's drivers and bring them here for driving lessons, perhaps we'd be better off. They signal all the time, they let people over when they're signalling, despite how much traffic there is it is so peaceful to drive in Cali. Both around LA and around SFO, including during rush hour. Where if I am in the far left lane and signal to get over, it takes only a few minutes for space to clear to let me over... That would NEVER happen here.

Other than during serious stop-and-go rush hour. Most of the time people are going slower in the HOV lane here anyway.

[Dragicon]

Originally Posted by neko

...and no one from out of state can understand what the crap you guys have painted all over your roads or how to use them.

Good lord, when it takes a booklet to explain every lane on the road and when to use it, i think we've gotten the gov't too involved.

People from outside the state of utah actually know how to drive, and realize that a double line means dont change lanes.... Maybe in utah they should remove the yellow double line down the middle of roads and just have a blank space so that people can change lanes freely.

Originally Posted by SkiWrex

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=9426070



I think it's a good idea, since 99% of other major cities in the country already open their HOV lanes in non traffic hours. And that double line no cross rule is absolutely worthless. I actually talked to Karen Morgan about this and she was telling me she's getting vicious opposition from UDOT over this...hmmm wonder why.

Apparently the state of California and Colorado have these "major" cities that account for the 1% of states that open their HOV lanes to people with only 1 person in the car.

Originally Posted by UT_Evo

Seriously, Utah drivers are the worst.

+1 million

[axleon2]

My step-dad is high up in udot I should post his email address lol!

[ashergrey]

If he's a state employee anyone can get his work email address and phone number by plugging his name into the state employee directory at utah.gov.

[axleon2]

lol good then I wont post his name ha ha I just sent him a text though and said open more hov lanes

[axleon2]

He designed the legacy highway and I remember in the beginning stages we got threatening voicemails at home from wetland conservatives...

[ashergrey]

Originally Posted by axleon2

He designed the legacy highway and I remember in the beginning stages we got threatening voicemails at home from wetland conservatives...

Conservatives in that they wanted to conserve the swamp, not political conservatives. Most of the eco-anti-Legacy people were on the left side of the political spectrum. It sucks that people think it's acceptable to threaten public servants like that.

The state settlement on the Legacy debacle is probably the best thing Governor Huntsman did for the state. That road should have been built 20 years earlier.