Area’s first HOV lanes set to open on the North Side next week

Bexar County’s first high-occupancy vehicle lanes are set to open on the North Side next week, allowing multi-passenger vehicles to bypass traffic, according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation and VIA Metropolitan Transit.

The new HOV lanes will open between Ralph Fair Road and La Cantera Parkway eastbound on Interstate 10. The westbound HOV lanes are set to open later this fall. VIA teamed with TxDOT for the new lanes in an effort to reduce traffic congestion, the release said.

VIA did not specify which day next week the new lanes will open.

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HOV lanes are reserved for vehicles carrying two or more passengers, including buses, carpools, vanpools, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.

VIA said the new lanes are a part of the company’s long-range plans to improve transit in area.

According to the news release, there will be about 28 miles of HOV lanes set up in the region over the next several years. The I-10 section is the first of three VIA-managed HOV lanes in San Antonio. The second set of lanes will be between Loop 1604 and Stone Oak Parkway on U.S. 281 and the third will be a continuation of the U.S. 281 HOV lane from Stone Oak Parkway to Borgfeld Road. Both are expected to open by 2023.

Using the HOV lanes doesn’t require special sign-ups or car tags, but passenger regulations will be enforced by the San Antonio Police Department. Signs will be posted with the “HOV 2+only” signs to help commuters identify the lanes.

Taylor Pettaway is a breaking news and general assignment reporter for MySA.com | [email protected] | @TaylorPettaway