HOV lanes; degradation; technical correction

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide information on traffic patterns and carpooling habits impact.

HOV Lanes; Technical Fixes

This bill amends Arizona's laws to clarify how the Department of Transportation monitors HOV lanes and prioritizes vehicles when these lanes become degraded due to single-occupancy vehicle use.

What This Bill Does

• Amends section 28-337 of the Arizona Revised Statutes to specify procedures for monitoring the impact of single-occupancy vehicles on HOV lane operations.
• Establishes a priority order for using degraded HOV lanes: passenger cars with two or more people, public transit buses, other buses with at least two people, motorcycles, alternative fuel vehicles, and low emission/energy efficient vehicles.
• Defines when an HOV lane is considered degraded if the average speed of vehicles in it drops below 45 miles per hour for ninety percent of the time over a consecutive one hundred eighty day period during morning and evening weekday peak hours.

Who It Names or Affects

• Drivers who use or want to use HOV lanes in Arizona.
• The Department of Transportation, which will manage and monitor these lanes.

Terms To Know

HOV Lanes

High Occupancy Vehicle lanes are special lanes on roads that are meant for vehicles with more than one person inside to encourage carpooling and reduce traffic congestion.

Degradation

When HOV lanes become less effective because they have too many single-occupant cars, reducing their intended benefits.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify what happens if the Department of Transportation fails to enforce these rules.
• It is unclear how this change will affect traffic patterns and carpooling habits in Arizona.

Official Summary Text

HB2816 - HOV lanes; degradation; technical correction

Current Bill Text

HB2816 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
HOV lanes; degradation; technical correction

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2816

Introduced by

Representative
Cavero

AN
ACT

amending
section 28-337, arizona revised statutes; relating to the department of
transportation.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 28-337, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
28-337.

High occupancy vehicle lane; lane degradation; priority use

A. In accordance with 23 United States Code section
166, the department shall develop procedures to monitor the impact that single
occupancy vehicles authorized under sections 28-2416 and 28-2416.01 have on the
operation of the high occupancy vehicle lanes.

B. If a high occupancy vehicle lane becomes degraded
due to the authorization of single occupancy vehicles authorized under sections
28-2416 and 28-2416.01, use of the lane is restricted to the following
vehicles in the following priority:

1. Passenger vehicles with two or more occupants,
including the driver.

2. Public transit buses.

3. Buses with two or more occupants, including the
driver.

4. Motorcycles.

5. Alternative fuel vehicles.

6. Low emission and energy efficient vehicles
as defined in section 28-601
.

C. The department shall limit use to vehicles in the
priority order prescribed in subsection B of this section and shall maintain
those restrictions while the lane or portion of the lane remains degraded.

D. For the purposes of this section, a high
occupancy vehicle lane is degraded if vehicles operating on the facility, or
portions of the facility, are failing to maintain a speed of forty-five miles
per hour or greater ninety
per cent

percent

of the time over a consecutive one hundred eighty day period during morning and
evening weekday
peak hour

peak-hour

periods
.
END_STATUTE