A METRO pilot program will be conducted to see if extended HOV lane hours results in greater use.[/caption]

Crowded freeways during nights and weekends have led the Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority to announce a pilot program that extends the hours drivers can use HOV and HOT lanes citywide, including along Hwy. 290.

The lanes—which are typically open from 5-11 a.m. for inbound drivers and from 1-8 p.m. for outbound drivers, strictly on weekdays—will have hours extended to 11 p.m. Drivers with a toll tag can also use the lanes on weekends from 10 a.m.-8 p.m., METRO officials said.

“Metro decided they wanted to see how they might be able to better use the assets they have,” said Nader Mirjamali, a METRO HOT lanes project manager, at a Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce meeting June 4. “Doing it on a pilot basis will allow us to see if it’s worthwhile.”

The pilot program will be launched July 1 and will last for 90 days, Mirjamiali said. METRO will be sharing more information on the program closer to the launch date, he said.

Both HOV and HOT lanes can be used by vehicles with more than one occupant, except from 6:30-8 a.m., when at least three occupants are required on the Hwy. 290 lane. HOT lanes are also open to drivers who pay a toll. Hwy. 290 features a 13.5-mile reversible HOV/HOT lane. Other HOV lanes operate on Hwy. 59, I-45 and I-10.

More information about toll prices and hours of operation can be found on METRO’s website.