Electric vehicles with fewer than 3 have to pay for carpool lane

QThe new express lanes are opening on Highway 101 on Friday. As someone who has driven electric cars for over 10 years, almost always with my wife, I have enjoyed being able to use the carpool lane. But now signs imply that the express lane will only be free for cars with 3 or more people.

Say it ain’t so! As senior citizens who always drive together in an EV, don’t we deserve a free lane with less traffic?

— Mark Robichek,

Sunnyvale

AI’m certain many others agree with you, but these are the new rules and they will apply in most express lanes.

Carpools with three or more people, as well as buses, will be able to travel free of charge in the express lanes. Those driving clean air vehicles with a valid cleanair vehicle decal from the DMV will qualify for a 50 percent discount for solo drivers or vehicles with two people.

Express lanes will be in effect from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. weekdays.

For more information, go to 101express.com for details.

Q

I just unretired and driving Interstate 880 each day using FasTak. While heading south from Hayward, the first sign shows a toll of $1.75 to Thornton and $2.50 to Decoto Road. A mile or more later, the sign shows $2.50 to Thornton and $4 to Decoto. Which is it?

— John Bingham,

San Jose

AYou will be charged a toll based on where you enter the express lane.

QWith the start of FasTrak lanes on 101, we are going to have an interesting problem. Highway 85 north has a 2+ car lane that merges into the FasTrak lanes on north 101.

The 85 lane has the normal commute hours restrictions, but it seems that 101 is almost 24 hours. So, outside commute hours you can use 85, but then have to quickly merge into the normal two right hand lanes, if driving alone.

Does this mean that I need to get a FasTrak to drive from 85 to 101 during non-commute hours if I want to avoid the inevitable traffic flow problems?

— John Dobyns,

Cupertino

A

This could be a headache until the 85-101 interchange is rebuilt, and we do not yet know when that will be. The lane striping on 101 will be dashed in this area, allowing drivers a longer distance in which to merge.

Q

One of the differences between express lanes on 101 and the ones on 680 is drivers can enter and exit at any point on 101.

Won’t this make it easier for drivers to fool the fast track readers by diving into the lane after a reader and popping out before the next reader?

A

Some will try this, but over time, this should diminish.