1. What are METRO HOT Lanes?
METRO HOT (High Occupancy Toll) Lanes allow drivers without passengers (single-occupant vehicles or SOVs) to use the HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) Lane – for a toll.


2. Can carpools/vanpools/motorcycles still ride for free?
Yes. The benefits of shared commuting remain the same. METRO HOT Lanes are designed to offer motorists another tool to add to their commute options.


3. Won’t single-occupant vehicles slow HOV Lane speeds?
Traffic monitoring systems help METRO maintain traffic speeds to ensure optimal travel times for existing HOV Lane users, as well those using the METRO HOT Lanes. If speeds slow, single-occupant vehicles are not allowed in the HOV Lane. The lane is also be closed during peak traffic periods – specific to each METRO HOT Lane corridor - to single-occupant vehicles.


4. Why is METRO offering the METRO HOT Lanes program?

• Provides new options for commuters
• Increases safety and promotes quick response to accidents and issues in the lanes thanks to additional camera monitoring
• Improves air quality by reducing traffic congestion
• Better utilizes existing HOV Lanes
• Offers increased enforcement of the HOV Lane system
• Revenue generated from tolls will contribute to the operation, maintenance and enforcement costs for METRO HOT Lanes

5. How much will tolls be for METRO HOT Lanes?
Tolls are based on time of day and the congestion level of each METRO HOT Lane. METRO will publish the toll rate for specific corridors prior to opening and tolls will be prominently displayed along each corridor.

METRO will actively monitor the lanes to ensure optimal travel times for existing HOV Lane users as well those using the METRO HOT Lanes.

The IH-45 (Gulf Freeway) Corridor tolls are:

6. Where do I access the METRO HOT Lanes?
Entrances are the same as existing HOV Lane access points. These are outlined on METRO’s website, here.


7. Where do I get a METRO Toll Tag?
METRO HOT Lanes Toll Tags will be available for purchase online at www.ridemetro.org, and at METRO’s Travis Street RideStore, 1001 Travis.


8. How much will METRO HOT Lanes Toll Tags cost, and is there a minimum amount I need to put on the tag?
Individuals must open a METRO HOT Lanes Toll tag account with a one-time initial cost of $15 for the tag. A minimum amount of $40 must be applied to the tag upon purchase for use within the lanes.

9. Can I use my EZ Tag on METRO’s HOT Lanes?
Yes. METRO HOT Lanes users will have a choice of using a METRO HOT Lanes Toll Tag, Harris County EZ TAG, TxDOT’s TxTAG or the Dallas NTTA Toll Tag.

10. How will law enforcement monitor METRO HOT Lanes users to ensure payment?
METRO HOT Lanes users have specific verification points along the corridor. Booths are located along the lane for active monitoring by enforcement officers to ensure single-occupant motorists declare themselves to be METRO HOT Lanes users. Officers can ticket single-occupant violators.

11. If a single-occupant vehicle enters the METRO HOT Lanes and the toll changes during the course of the trip, which toll will be charged?
METRO HOT Lanes users are charged the toll listed when they enter the lane. If the toll price goes up or down during the course of the trip, the METRO HOT Lanes user is charged the price listed upon entering the lane.


12. What if a single-occupant vehicle uses the METRO HOT Lane without a toll tag?
This is considered a toll tag violation. METRO will issue a fine of an $11 administrative fee plus the outstanding toll to the registered owner of the violating vehicle for each toll violation incident. In lieu of administrative fees, customers have the option of opening a METRO HOT Lanes Toll Tag account and pay only past due tolls. 


13.  What happens if a single-occupant vehicle drives in the HOV Lane verification lane?
A single driver using a HOV verification lane is considered a toll violation and METRO Police will issue a violation notice.  As an option to avoid automatically sending violators to court, METRO allows the violator to pay a $75 administrative fee rather than the maximum court fine of $250, as is done with an occupancy violation.


14. What happens if a single-occupant vehicle enters the METRO HOT Lanes when they are closed to single drivers?
A single driver’s usage of METRO HOT Lanes when designated for HOV use only is a HOV occupancy violation.  METRO will issue a citation and require court appearance. The current fine assessed by the court is $170.


15. Will METRO HOT Lanes users be refunded if there is an accident in the HOV Lane?
No. While you will not receive a refund if there is an accident in the HOV Lane, camera-monitoring systems are installed for faster response times to accidents and removal of obstructions.


16. How will the money from the collected toll revenue be used?
Money collected from tolls contributes to the operation, maintenance and enforcement costs of the METRO HOT Lanes.

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