CommuterPage

High-Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

HOV lanes are traffic lanes set aside for vehicles with a minimum number of occupants. HOV lanes shorten commute times for carpoolers, but they also shorten commute times for everyone else on the road, by reducing the volume of traffic. HOV restrictions and even the direction of travel in these lanes may change depending on the day and time. Some HOV lanes are open to hybrid vehicles and/or motorcycles that don't carry the minimum number of riders. For the most up-to-date information about rules and hours for each system, follow the links provided under "HOV Lanes in Virginia" and "HOV Lanes in Maryland," below.

HOV Lanes in Virginia

For the most current and complete information about HOV lanes in Virginia, see the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) HOV page.

I-95/I-395

Between Prince William County, Virginia and Washington, D.C., there is a 30-mile long, 2-lane HOV facility in the highway median. The direction of the lanes is changed, and HOV restrictions imposed and lifted, at set times as the volume of traffic in each direction changes. During weekday rush hours, the lanes are restricted to vehicles with three or more people (HOV-3), northbound (toward D.C.) in the morning, southbound in the evening. The lanes are also available on the weekends, without the HOV restriction.

I-66

Inside the Beltway (I-495), all lanes of I-66 are restricted to vehicles with two or more people (HOV-2), and drivers of single-occupancy vehicles travelling to and from Dulles Airport. HOV restrictions are in effect on weekdays, eastbound (toward D.C.) in the morning and westbound in the evening. Outside the Beltway, there is one lane in each direction marked with diamonds; these lanes are also restricted to HOV-2 eastbound in the morning and westbound in the evening.

Dulles Toll Road

From Rt. 28 to the Beltway (I-495) The Dulles Toll Road has one lane in each direction restricted to vehicles with two or more people (HOV-2) on weekdays, eastbound (toward D.C.) in the morning and westbound in the evening. The lanes are marked with diamonds.

495 Express Lanes

For complete information about 495 Express Lanes, see the 495 Express Lanes site.

The 495 Express Lanes, expected to open in late 2012 on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway, will be toll lanes open to all. These lanes will be free for carpoolers with three or more people, buses, motorcycles and emergency vehicles.

HOV Lanes in Maryland

For the most current and complete information about HOV lanes in Maryland, see the Maryland State Highway Administration HOV page.

I-270

There is one HOV lane in each direction from the the Beltway (I-495) through Montgomery County, MD. The southbound HOV lane extends from I-370 to I-495 (Capital Beltway). The northbound HOV lane extends from I-495 to MD 121 (Clarksburg). The lanes are marked with painted diamonds.

Route 50

There is one HOV lane in each direction from Route 301 to the Beltway (I-495). The lanes are restricted to HOV-2 traffic at all times.