HOV Lanes - www.OntHighways.com

Many Southern Ontario commuters have noticed new special lanes added to the centre of some of the 400-series highways in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). These special new lanes are different from conventional freeway lanes in that only vehicles with two or more occupants can use them. For this reason, these lanes are called High Occupancy Vehicle lanes (or HOV lanes for short). To start, HOV lanes were opened in both directions on Highway 403 between the 407 and 401, and southbound on Highway 404 from Highway 7 southerly to the 401 on December 13, 2005. HOV lanes are being considered for other GTA area highways and on Highway 417 through Kanata. Construction is already underway to add HOV lanes to the northbound lanes of Highway 404 opposite the existing southbound lane.

HOV lanes are separated from conventional highway lanes by a 2m wide striped buffer. It is both illegal and dangerous to cross this striped buffer zone. Regularly spaced entry and exit locations have been constructed to allow vehicles to enter and exit HOV lanes. The stripped buffer ends at these entry and exit locations replaced with quickly spaced broken (continuity) lines. Signs are erected at the beginning of these entry and exit points if it is the last exit point before a freeway interchange (See photos below for examples of this signage). These specially designated entry and exit points are located roughly every 2 to 4 kms are typically roughly 400m long.

There is currently no driver hot-line to report those who miss-use HOV lanes, however the OPP has promised regular enforcement. The MTO has constructed specially designed alcoves in the left-hand shoulder to allow police to safely pull over offenders.

Photos of HOV lanes on Highway 403 through Mississauga.

Proper Municipality Name	Photo Description	Photo
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	Advanced signage informing drivers of the upcoming start of the HOV lane on the left-side of Highway 403. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 35kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	500m advanced signage for the start of the HOV lane. The start of an HOV lane is typically double signed with advanced signage at both the 1km and 500m mark. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 30kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	Signage denoting the beginning of the HOV lane along the Eastbound 403 at Winston Churchill Boulevard. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 35kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	This picture shows the designated entry and exit points of an HOV lane. Overhead signs and on-pavement diamonds are used to differentiate HOV lanes from conventional highway lanes. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 30kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	This picture shows the overhead advanced sign for an upcoming HOV lane exit (as well as for a mainline highway exit). Notice also the signage informing motorists to not cross the striped buffer zone. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 45kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	Signage at the exit from the HOV lane. This picture also shows the transition from the striped buffer zone to the continuity lane. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 50kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	1km advanced sign for the upcoming end of the HOV lane. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 35kb.
City of Mississauga Regional Municipality of Peel	Sign at the end of the HOV lanes. In this case the HOV lane becomes a convention highway lane at its terminus. At the end of the HOV lane, the stripped buffer ends and single occupant vehicles are permitted in the left lane once again. Picture taken: January 1st, 2006. Size: 30kb.

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Page last updated: January 3rd, 2006

Page created: January 3rd, 2006