A HOT lane, or High-Occupancy/Toll lane, is an enhanced HOV (High-Occupancy Vehicle) concept that offers vehicles that do not meet minimum HOV passenger occupancy requirements access by paying a fee, or toll. Price and occupancy levels are used to manage the number of vehicles in the lane(s) in order to maintain uncongested (free flow) traffic volumes. HOT lanes are a way of “selling” unused capacity in an HOV lane in order to maximize efficiency on the highway system; HOT lanes are also a way of managing overutilized HOV lanes by using pricing and eligibility to reduce the demand in these circumstances. HOT lanes give an opportunity to pay to drive in the HOV lane. Toll prices change by time of day in order to maintain current speeds for carpoolers and buses in the HOV lanes during peak periods of travel.

HOT lanes offer a variety of potential travel benefits to both drivers and the region as a whole:

• Enhanced transportation options: Drivers have the opportunity to take advantage of reliable travel times by paying a premium for access.
  
  
• Revenue generation: Tolls provide an additional source of revenue which can be used to pay for transportation improvements such as the construction and operation of the lane, enhanced transit service in the corridor or other roadway improvements.
  
  
• Improved efficiency: HOV facilities see maximum efficiency by filling excess space in the lanes when capacity is available but managing the lanes and guaranteeing travel times when the lanes approach capacity.

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