Las Vegas NowCarpool Lane 101 For U.S. 95

Carpool Lane 101 For U.S. 95

The new section of U.S. 95 will have carpool lanes! they are the very first car pool lanes ever on a Nevada highway. And while they may seem simple to use, you'd be surprised how many Las Vegas drivers have never used one before.

Here's your first clue -- diamond symbols on the ground. They signify a carpool lane. And if you're willing to carpool, you might just have a guaranteed trip time into town.

"The HOV lanes should move more people in one lane than the adjacent general purpose lane -- not more vehicles but more people," said project manager John Terry.

Here are the rules. You must have two or more people in your vehicle -- and yes, a baby or child counts. Motorcycles are allowed to use the carpool lane and so are cars, light trucks, and SUVs. Busses can use them too. But tractor trailers and campers are not allowed.

"The HOV lane will start really at about Lake Mead," said Terry.

From there, the carpool lane goes all the way to the Spaghetti Bowl.

"We want to emphasize this is part of a bigger system that is coming and we hope to add them to more freeways including connections between freeways," said Terry.

The U.S. 95 Widening Project started with an environmental impact statement and as a part of that process, the Nevada Department of Transportation committed to including carpool lanes. The lanes and the wider highway as a whole should be a major step in improving traffic congestion.

Mohammad Rouas, Asst. Engineer for Construction said, "I believe so -- the only fear that we have, people are going to start going too fast. It's going to be wider. We really caution people to stay in the speed limit and not exceed it -- that is a danger."

Carpool lanes work a little different here, than in California. You can actually cross the white solid line. You can move in and out of the carpool lanes.

Now, you know what to do. And with four general purpose lanes and one carpool lane on each side of the highway, NDOT says drivers should sit back and enjoy the ride. The carpool lanes will be in effect 24 hours a day.

If you're caught driving in the lane by yourself, it will cost you $300.