The Colorado Department of Transportation today offered proposed guidelines for allowing up to 2,000 hybrid and alternative-fuel vehicles to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) and high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, even if the vehicles are occupied by just their drivers.
The guidelines still need approval from the state Department of Revenue, said CDOT spokeswoman Stacey Stegman. If all approvals are obtained, the hybrid vehicles may be able to use the lanes this spring.
CDOT’s rules will cover HOV lanes on Interstate 25, U.S. 36 and South Santa Fe Drive in the Denver area and on Colorado 82 between Aspen and Glenwood Springs, Stegman said.
Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency published rules to govern hybrids using HOV lanes. CDOT will follow the federal guidelines, Stegman said.
Hybrid owners will need to apply to CDOT for a sticker for their vehicles to allow access to the special lanes, and the state will issue motorists a transponder so speeds and traffic volumes can be monitored, Stegman said.
Owners can e-mail CDOT at info@dot.state.co.us to get on a list of those who want to be notified by the agency when they can sign up for the hybrid/HOV stickers.
