PHOENIX – The Federal Highway Administration has informed Arizona that as of Sept. 30 electric vehicles and other currently eligible alternative fuel vehicles with a single occupant will no longer have access to HOV lanes during restricted times. 

ADOT has established a website at azdot.gov/HOVRule to help alternative fuel vehicle owners and others prepare for the change. It explains what’s scheduled to happen upon expiration of a provision of federal code that allows the access, state transportation officials stated in a release.

A provision of federal code currently allows Arizona to exempt alternative fuel vehicles from HOV lane restrictions that otherwise require two or more occupants except for motorcycles.

In addition to electric vehicles, currently eligible alternative fuel vehicles include those operating solely on natural gas, propane, hydrogen, coal-derived liquid fuels, fuels derived from biological materials, methanol or denatured alcohol or other alcohols, the release stated.

The decision on whether to allow this provision in federal code to lapse lies with Congress, state officials said.

“Even though this is a federal matter, ADOT is sharing early word because the outcome affects travelers in the Phoenix area, owners and prospective buyers of alternative fuel vehicles and businesses selling and servicing alternative fuel vehicles,” the release stated.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org.