The Region : Use of New Car-Pool Lanes Up

Less than three weeks after ride-share lanes opened on the Foothill Freeway between Pasadena and Glendora, large numbers of commuters are using them to beat rush-hour traffic.

“We’re right on target for our projections,” Caltrans spokesman Russell Snyder said. Caltrans engineers had set an initial target of 800 to 1,000 vehicles in each direction during peak hours based on a five-year goal of 1,500 vehicles each way.

Initial studies by Caltrans engineers indicate that 1,000 vehicles used the westbound lane in the morning’s peak rush hour and 1,200 vehicles used the eastbound lane in the evening’s peak rush hour, officials said.

Buses, motorcycles and automobiles with two or more people can use the lanes, open in both directions between Hill Street in Pasadena and Sunflower Avenue in Glendora.

Use of the car-pool lanes is expected to rise because traffic volume during the holidays is lighter than usual and many drivers were not aware the lanes were open in both directions, Snyder said.

He said use of car-pool lanes typically increases after two or three months as eligible drivers become familiar with them.