SALT LAKE CITY -- If Sen. Karen Morgan, D-Salt Lake City, has her way, those double lines locking you into or out of the HOV lane on Interstate 15 will be removed.
What the Salt Lake City Democrat may not get is an opening for the lane for all drivers during off-peak hours.
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said he could get behind the idea of removing the restrictive lines but doesn't see the point of opening up the HOV lane if demand doesn't require it.
Senate Bill 38 narrowly passed committee Tuesday -- against the wishes of the Utah Department of Transportation.
"UDOT is very powerful," Morgan said afterward about her chances of getting the bill through floor debate in the Senate.
Carlos Braceras, of UDOT, said the agency has signed a $14 million contract to also use the HOV lane as an electronic toll lane, and any changes to the plan would cost money to get out of the contract.
Morgan says plans sometimes change and that making the HOV lane a toll lane, too, defeats the purpose.
Senate Bill 38 provides that a designated HOV lane shall be open for general vehicle use regardless of the number of occupants except during the peak hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. It would also require UDOT to allow for continuous permitted access into and out of all HOV lanes by marking the lanes with a single dotted white line.
One point of debate was the cost to convert the lane to a regular one during off-peak hours. The original price tag was $7 million because UDOT says 56 massive signs would need to be installed to inform drivers about the hourly state of the lane.
Morgan dismissed that cost and is awaiting a second analysis.
She also cited a number of other states that are moving forward with similar proposals, including Arizona, California, Texas and Tennessee.
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