The high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes along US 75 that run through Richardson and beyond will become general purpose lanes a majority of the time thanks to an agreement reached this week between local officials and the Federal Highway Administration.
The change, expected later this year, is hoped to improve the capacity and reliability of the busy transportation corridor, providing congestion relief for drivers and better utilization of the HOV lanes.
The agreement calls for the lanes to be general purpose (no toll, no HOV requirement) about 94 percent of the time, but to charge single-occupant vehicles using the lanes a minimal toll during selected hours weekday mornings (southbound) and evenings (northbound). Vehicles with two or more occupants will be able to use the new lanes without being charged the toll. The lanes will remain open as non-tolled general purpose lanes for the rest of the day and weekends, operating around the clock.
Initially, the transitioned lanes will operate from IH 635 to Bethany Drive in Allen. A planned interchange at Ridgeview Drive and US 75 will allow the lanes to extend north to the Sam Rayburn Tollway once the interchange is complete, in 2025. For more information, click here.
