HOV / HOT (Express) Lanes
METRO has an exciting option to make commuting easier. We’ve enhanced our High-occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lanes to give people driving solo the option to pay a small toll to use the lanes, with High-occupancy Toll (HOT) Express Lanes.
HOV Lanes are restricted lanes reserved for vehicles with a driver and one or more passengers. Each vehicle that travels on an HOV Lane must carry at least two or, in some cases, three people. HOV Lanes allow drivers to travel faster and avoid congestion in regular lanes during peak periods. Motorcycles are permitted to travel on the HOV Lane at any time as per federal guidelines.
METRO converted the HOV Lane system to METRO HOT (Express) Lanes in order to make better use of an underutilized resource. During non-peak hours, single-occupant vehicles can access the HOV / HOT (Express) Lanes for a small toll.
For real-time traffic reports, please visit the Houston TranStar website.
Ramp Types
- One-Way Ramp - Operates as an entrance in the morning and an exit in the evening.
- Two-Way Ramp - Operates as both entrance and exit, mornings and evenings. Pay attention to directional signs to safely follow traffic flow.
- Cross Ramp - Allows access to/from both sides of the freeway. Pay attention to directional signs to safely follow traffic flow.
- Slip Ramp - Allows you to merge into or out of freeway traffic.
- Wishbone Ramp - Provides access to/from feeder roads on either side of the freeway in the direction of traffic flow.
Laws of the Lanes
- Carpools, vanpools and motorcyclists ride for free.
- Solo drivers have the option of paying a toll to use the lanes.
- Trailer towing is prohibited.
- No trucks with more than two axles or a gross weight capacity of one ton or greater.
- No bicycles (motorcycles permitted).
- No pedestrians.
HOV / HOT (Express) Lanes Holiday Schedule
| Holiday |
Date |
Service Type |
| New Year's Day |
Monday, Jan. 1, 2018 |
Closed |
| Martin Luther King, Jr. Day |
Monday, Jan. 15, 2018 |
Open Regular Hours |
| Memorial Day |
Monday, May 28, 2018 |
Closed |
| Independence Day |
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 |
Closed |
| Labor Day |
Monday, Sept. 3, 2018 |
Closed |
| Day Before Thanksgiving |
Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2018 |
Open Inbound 5 - 10 a.m.
Open Outbound 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. |
| Thanksgiving Day |
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2018 |
Closed |
| Day After Thanksgiving |
Friday, Nov. 23, 2018 |
Closed |
| Christmas Day |
Tuesday, Dec.25, 2018 |
Closed |
| New Year's Day |
Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2019 |
Closed |
Katy Freeway Managed Lanes & I-10 West, US 59 South and US 290 Northwest Diamond Lanes
The Katy Freeway Managed Lanes are operated by the Harris County Toll Road Authority. Learn more about the Katy Freeway Managed Lanes
Diamond Lane Schedules and Occupancy Requirements
| Diamond Lanes Location |
Day |
Time |
Direction |
Required Number of People in Vehicle |
I-10 West
|
365 days |
24 hours |
Inbound
Outbound |
2+ |
US 59 South
|
365 days |
24 hours |
Inbound
Outbound |
2+ |
US 290 Northwest
|
365 days |
24 hours |
Inbound
Outbound |
2+ |
Report Violations on Katy Managed Lanes and Katy Diamond Lanes to:
Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA)
Communications Department
713-587-7806
katymanagedlanes@hctra.org
Report Diamond Lane violations on 59S between Sugar Creek and the Grand Parkway to:
Sugar Land Police Department
Traffic Division
281-275-2500
www.sugarlandtx.gov/police (use online complaint form)
Report Diamond Lane violations on 59S between Sugar Creek and Beltway 8 to:
Stafford Police Department
281-261-3950
HOT (Express) Lanes
What are METRO HOT (Express) Lanes?
Simply put – awesome. METRO HOT (Express) Lanes allow drivers without passengers to use
the HOV Lane system by paying a toll, using an authorized toll tag – cash not accepted. METRO HOT (Express) Lanes currently accepts the following toll tags:
- Harris County EZ TAG
- TxDOT Toll Tag
- TxTAG Toll Tag
- Dallas NTTA Toll Tag
Questions? Call HOT (Express) Lanes Customer Support at 281-875-3279.
METRO HOT (Express) Lanes Corridors:
- I-45 South
- I-45 North
- US 59 South
- US 59 North
- US 290
Tolls for METRO HOT (Express) Lanes
Tolls are based on the time of day and congestion level for each of METRO’s HOT (Express) Lanes corridors. The toll rates for specific corridors are prominently displayed at each entrance to the lanes.
Benefits of METRO HOT (Express) Lanes
- Provides new options for commuters
- Increases safety and promotes quick response to accidents and issues in the lanes due to additional camera monitoring
- Improves air quality by reducing traffic congestion
- Better utilizes existing HOV Lanes
- Offers increased enforcement of the HOV Lane system
Using the METRO HOT (Express) Lanes
- Toll tags only – NO CASH
METRO HOT (Express) Lanes users can use Harris
County EZ TAG, TxDOT, TxTAG or the Dallas NTTA Toll Tag.
- Drive the METRO HOT (Express) Lanes
Drivers without passengers enter the METRO HOT (Express) Lane via existing HOV Lane entrance points. Entry and exit points vary by corridor view map for locations.
- Paying your toll
Drivers without passengers must have a toll tag. Signs at the entrance display the price for single-occupant vehicles to use METRO HOT (Express) Lanes.
- Declaring METRO HOT (Express) Lanes status
Clearly marked in each METRO HOT (Express) Lane are verification lanes where drivers must declare whether or not they have passengers. At these verification points, the HOV lane will briefly split to two lanes – all METRO HOT (Express) Lanes users must declare single-occupant status by moving to the lane marked "TOLL ONLY.” Vehicles driving through this lane will automatically be charged the METRO HOT (Express) Lanes toll – even if they have multiple passengers.