HOV/HOT Express Lanes

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Here's a brief introduction to METRO's HOV/HOT Express Lanes and how they operate.

The first entrance is past Cypresswood Drive near Parramatta Lane, from the I-45 North southbound main lanes.

The next entrance is just south of FM 1960 (Cypress Creek Parkway) from the frontage road.

You can also access the express lane from Kuykendahl Park & Ride (12920 Kuykendahl Road).

The Kuykendahl Park & Ride is also your first opportunity to exit. Exit to the right.

The next entrance is just south of Fallbrook Drive from the frontage road.

You can also access the express lane from the frontage road at North Shepherd Drive or Veterans Memorial Drive.

The next entrance to the express lane is at the intersection of Airline Drive and East 40th 1/2 Street.

You can also exit to the right toward Airline Drive and I-610 North Loop.

You'll have another opportunity to exit to the left toward Quitman Street or I-10 West.

The express lane ends in downtown Houston. Exit left for Smith Street or right for Milam Street.

From downtown, the first entrance to the northbound express lane is from Louisiana Street, just past Franklin Street.

You can also enter from Travis Street, north of Commerce Street, near the University of Houston Downtown.

The next entrance is from White Oak Drive (Quitman Street).

If you're traveling eastbound on I-10, take exit 768A to merge onto the I-45 North main lanes. Then enter the express lane on the left.

The next entrance is at the intersection of Airline Drive and East 40th 1/2 Street.

Your first opportunity to exit is toward Airline Drive and I-610 North Loop. Exit to the right.

The next exit provides access to North Shepherd Drive or Veterans Memorial Drive. Exit to the right.

The next exit will give you access to the Sam Houston Tollway or Fallbrook Drive. Exit to the right.

The next entrance to the express lane is from Kuykendahl Park & Ride (12920 Kuykendahl Road).

You can also exit to Kuykendahl Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

Just past Richey Road, you can exit to FM 1960 (Cypress Creek Parkway). Exit to the right.

The final exit rejoins the northbound main lanes of I-45 North before Cypresswood Drive.

From Downtown Houston, you can enter the express lane from Pierce Street, just north of Emancipation Avenue.

The next entrance is from Eastwood Transit Center (4400 Gulf Freeway).

Your first opportunity to exit will be toward I-610 South Loop. Exit to the right.

You can also enter the express lane from I-610 South Loop frontage road, east of I-45 South southbound frontage road.

Your next chance to enter the express lane is from Monroe Park & Ride (8833 1/2 Gulf Freeway).

You can also enter the express lane at the intersection of Monroe Road and Monroe Private Road 1 Drive.

Your next chance to exit is Monroe Road. Exit to the right toward Hobby Airport.

Or take the left exit, across the express lane, to Monroe Park & Ride.

Just south of Fuqua Street, you can exit to Fuqua Park & Ride. Exit to the right.

There’s also an exit to South Point Park & Ride, across the express lane from Fuqua Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

The next exit takes you to Dixie Farm Road (FM 1959). Exit to the right.

Just south of Dixie Farm Road, you can exit onto the southbound main lanes of I-45 South, near El Dorado Boulevard.

After you cross Bay Area Boulevard, you’ll be forced to exit onto the southbound main lanes of I-45 South near West Medical Center Boulevard.

The first entrance to the southbound express lane is just south of Loop 494, from Highway 59 North frontage road.

The next entrance is from Townsen Park & Ride (Townsen Boulevard and Eastex Freeway Service Road).

You can also access the express lane from Mckay Drive, north of Will Clayton Parkway, near George Bush Intercontinental Airport. 

Will Clayton Parkway via McKay Drive will be your first opportunity to exit. Exit to the left.

Your next chance to enter the lane is just south of Aldine Bender, from Eastex Park & Ride (14400 Old Humble Road).

You can also exit to Eastex Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

The next entrance to the express lane is from Tidwell Transit Center (9720 Epsom Road). You can also use Edell Street to enter via Kinkaid Street.

You can also exit to Tidwell Transit Center. Exit to the left.

The next exit is past Bennington Street toward Kelley Street and I-610 North. Exit to the left.

Your last opportunity to enter the lane is from the frontage road at Neches Street, just south of Kelley Street.

The next exit takes you to I-10. Exit to the right.

Just south of I-10, you're forced to exit to downtown via the Jackson Street exit ramp on the right.

From Downtown Houston, you can access I-69 / US 59 North express lane from Chenevert Street, north of Ruiz Street, using the entrance ramp on the left.

The next entrance is from the far left lane of the northbound main lanes, just north of Quitman Street.

The next entrance is from Kelley Street, just north of Neches Street.

Your first opportunity to exit is toward Kelley Street, just past I-610 North. Exit to the right to access the I-610 Loop.

The next entrance is just north of Tidwell Road at Tidwell Transit Center (9720 Epsom Road).

You also have an opportunity to exit to Tidwell Transit Center. Exit to the left.

The next entrance is just north of Homestead Road at Eastex Park & Ride (14400 Old Humble Road).

You can also exit at Eastex Park & Ride using the left lane. Exit here to access Sam Houston Parkway.

The next chance to exit is to Will Clayton Parkway via McKay Drive. Exit to the left.

You can also enter the express lane from McKay Drive, just north of Will Clayton Parkway.

Just north of FM 1960, you can exit to Townsen Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

Just after you cross the San Jacinto River, you'll be forced to exit to the I-69 / US 59 North frontage road, which takes you to Kingwood Drive and gives you access to Loop 494.

The first entrance is just north of West Airport Boulevard using the left lane of I-69 / US 59 South northbound main lanes.

The next entrance is from West Bellfort Park & Ride (11415 Roark Road).

Your first opportunity to exit will also be at West Bellfort Park & Ride using the right lane. Exit here to get to the Sam Houston Tollway.

The next entrance is from Westwood Park & Ride (9990 Southwest Freeway).

You can also exit to Westwood Park & Ride. Exit to the left to get onto the Sam Houston Tollway.

The next entrance is from Hillcroft Transit Center (6220 Southwest Freeway).

You can also exit to Hillcroft Transit Center. Exit to the left.

The next entrance is from Edloe Street, north of Westpark Drive.

You can also exit to Edloe Street to get to Greenway Plaza. Exit to the right.

The next exit is near Dunlavy Street and will put you on the I-69 / US 59 South northbound main lanes. Exit to the left.

Just north of Montrose Boulevard, the express lane veers to the left for the Travis Street exit via Spur 527. Exit to the right for Travis Street.

Just past Richmond Avenue, the express lane ends and merges with Spur 527 to exit at Louisiana Street, which takes you to downtown.

From downtown, you can access the express lane from Milam Street, just south of Alabama Street.

The next entrance is from Smith Street via Spur 527.

The next entrance is from the southbound main lanes of the freeway, just south of Dunlavy Street.

The next entrance is from Edloe Street, between Westpark Drive and Richmond Avenue.

From Greenway Plaza, there's another entrance on Edloe Street, south of Richmond Avenue.

Your first opportunity to exit is just south of Buffalo Speedway onto Edloe Street. Exit to the left.

The next entrance to the express lane is from Hillcroft Transit Center (6220 Southwest Freeway).

Just south of Westpark Drive, you can exit to Hillcroft Transit Center. Exit to the right to get to the Westpark Tollway or Loop 610.

The next entrance to the express lane is from Westwood Park & Ride (9990 Southwest Freeway).

You can also exit to Westwood Park & Ride. Exit to the right to get to the Sam Houston Tollway.

Your next chance to enter the express lane is from West Bellfort Park & Ride (11415 Roark Road).

You can also exit to West Bellfort Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

The express lane ends south of Murphy Road where you merge onto the main lanes of the highway.

Heading southeast on US-290, just east of Mason Road, take the express lane entrance ramp on the left.

The next entrance is just east of Telge Road from the main lanes of the highway, using the left lane.

From Castlebridge Drive, you can access the express lane from Northwest Station Park & Ride (18502 Northwest Freeway).

Just east of the Sam Houston Tollway you can access the lane from West little York Park & Ride (15010 Hempstead Road).

You can also exit to West Little York Park & Ride. Exit to the right.

Your next chance to exit will be toward Hempstead Road. Exit to the right to get onto I-10 or I-610.

The next exit takes you to Old Katy Road. Exit on the right.

The express lane ends at Northwest Transit Center. Or you can follow signs to exit onto I-10 East toward downtown.

If you're continuing into downtown, you can access the Katy-CBD HOV ramp from the 1-10 Eastbound main lanes, near Studemont Street.

You'll be forced to exit when you reach downtown onto either Franklin Street (shown here) or continue straight to Preston Street.

From Franklin Street, use the Katy-CBD HOV ramp to access I-10 West.

Alternatively, you can enter from I-10 Westbound just past Washington Avenue, before the Katy Tollway entrance, using the far left lane.

The next entrance is on Old Katy Road, near the I-610 overpass, using the entrance ramp.

You can also exit to Old Katy Road using the right lane.

The final entrance to the express lane is from West Little York Park & Ride (15010 Hempstead Road).

Your next opportunity to exit is to West Little York Park & Ride. Exit to the left.

The next exit is to Northwest Station Park & Ride. Exit to the right.

The next exit is just west of Huffmeister Road. Exit to the right to enter the main lanes of the highway.

The final exit is near Mason Road, giving you access to State Highway 99 (Grand Parkway).