Green Lanes in Illinois

Here’s another $1.8 billion on the altar of environmentalism.

The tollway board approved $1.8 billion in road-improvement spending today that includes funding to set aside carpool lanes along 80 miles of toll roads.

In 2010, crews would start converting one lane in each direction of the state’s tollways to carpool lanes, also known as “green lanes.” Drivers with at least one passenger could drive in the lanes at an established toll rate. Those driving along in hybrid cars or other specific fuel-efficient vehicles would be able to drive in the special lane but would pay more than carpoolers. Solo drivers in regular cars would have to pay even more to drive in the dedicated lane.

The sad truth is that this won’t do anything to make people more green.  Encouraging carpooling with dedicated lanes has failed consistently.  People are already moving to more economical cars and it has nothing to do with which lane they can use.  You can tell what this is really about by looking at the last sentence of the excerpt.  This is about green, alright… money. 

Anyone can use the dedicated lane, but some people pay more.  Sounds like a perfect revenue enhancer for the tollway. 

1. This example seems a little goofy (it is Illinois, after all), but this is actually an emerging trend in freeway building that uses market principles to help reduce congestion, I believe the term is “hot lanes”. It basically puts a premium on freeway space by charging individual users higher rates, especially during rush hours.

   http://virginiahotlanes.com/

   If we could ever bring Wisconsin into the 20th century (NOT a typo), perhaps we could do something similar.

   Posted by on November 20, 2008 at 2224 hrs




2. And that’s something that I would support.  At least it’s honest.  Pay more to drive faster.  Fine.  Love it.  But don’t blow CO2 up my ass and call it environmentally friendly.

   Posted by Owen on November 20, 2008 at 2228 hrs




3. I would pay extra to drive in a lane where I could run over environmentalists with immunity.

   Posted by on November 20, 2008 at 2257 hrs




4. There’s no need for this in Wisconsin.  the population has left or is leaving.

   Posted by on November 21, 2008 at 0008 hrs




5. Indeed Terry, there needs to be a hot lane where you’re allowed to drive 100 between Chicago and the Twin Cities.

   Posted by on November 21, 2008 at 2104 hrs




6. Indeed Terry, there needs to be a hot lane where you’re allowed to drive 100 between Chicago and the Twin Cities.

   There isn’t one already? I’d better slow down.

   Posted by on November 22, 2008 at 1448 hrs




7. Is thir really necesary to do or is just another move to distract people while on the other hand they are manouvering money for their personal accounts?

   Posted by Motorcycle Cruiser Fairings on November 27, 2008 at 1018 hrs




8. Why should I have to pay extra to drive the same speed limit all the other assholes on the road will be doing?  Give me a lane where the minimum speed limit is 85 mph and I’ll gladly pay a premium.  Here’s basically how it goes:  douche bags with many people in their car drive slower.  Hybrids do not have any “oomph” in their little 1.4 liter engines hence they drive and accelerate slow.  These “hot lanes” are going to be slow as fuck.

   Posted by on December 09, 2008 at 1156 hrs




9. Oh and yes I agree, this has nothing to do with “being green” as it does with “generating green” sentiment.  Illinois is a money-grubbing Nazi state.  They spend, spend, spend and line their corrupt politicians’ pockets with money while bending the civilians over every chance they get.

   Posted by on December 09, 2008 at 1232 hrs