Shawn Arrajj[/caption]

Drivers along Hwy. 290 in Cypress may have noticed the removal of the diamond lanes for high occupancy vehicles earlier this year. The lanes, which previously ran from North Eldridge Parkway to the Cypress Park & Ride at Skinner Road, was operated by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County and was available to drivers with more than one occupant in their vehicles.

The Texas Department of Transportation—which has been working with METRO—removed the lane as a part of the Hwy. 290 expansion project. Plans call for replacing it with a single reversible managed lane separated by a barrier.

The reversible lane will allow access to EZ tag and HOV drivers to travel inbound in the mornings and outbound in the afternoons with the intention of alleviating rush hour traffic. The new configuration involves extending the HOV lane out to Mason Road. Drivers going inbound will connect to an HOV lane that will continue to the Loop 610 interchange.