Keep Car-Pool Lanes, Panel Advises

The controversial car-pool lanes on the Costa Mesa Freeway should be made permanent instead of experimental, a citizens advisory group recommended Monday.

Rejecting criticism from Drivers for Highway Safety that the barrier-free lanes have led to accidents, the citizens panel voted 16 to 1 in favor of retaining them. The vote came at a meeting Wednesday morning at the Orange County Transportation Commission office in Santa Ana.

Members of the citizens panel include representatives of city councils; chambers of commerce; local, state and county legislators; the Irvine Co. and the Automobile Club of Southern California.

Panel member Bill Ward, who represented Drivers for Highway Safety, cast the dissenting vote. He said he was not surprised by Wednesday’s decision because the panel’s membership “doesn’t reflect everyday freeway users.”

Ward unsuccessfully sought postponement of the vote until the panel could hold a public hearing.

The panel was created by the county Transportation Commission, which has scheduled its own public hearing for Jan. 26. Either the commission or the California Department of Transportation can override the advisory panel’s recommendation.

As part of Wednesday’s action, the advisory panel recommended that continuation of the car-pool lanes be accompanied by periodic improvements in design and operation. Caltrans officials said Wednesday that they plan to install overhead signs designating the special lanes and to improve other features during the next two years.