Allow States to Let Hybrids Use the Carpool Lanes

February 1, 2005

Washington, D.C. - Today, Congressmen Darrell Issa (R-Vista, CA) and Brad Sherman (D-Sherman Oaks, CA) introduced legislation that would allow states to permit hybrid vehicles to use carpool lanes (high-occupancy vehicle lanes).This legislation, the Hybrid Vehicle HOV Access Act, would enable California to implement the recently passed law that allows high-mileage hybrids to use carpool lanes.Currently, federal law permits only high-occupancy (usually two persons), natural gas and electric vehicles to use HOV lanes.

The California law, authored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley and signed by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, allows 45 miles-per-gallon hybrids to use carpool lanes.The law was to go into effect January 1, but implementation has been indefinitely delayed until new federal legislation is passed.

Issa quote:

œStates should be allowed to permit all hybrids to use HOV lanes, or, to limit this privilege to high-mileage hybrids, or, if they choose, not allow any hybrids at all, said Sherman.œThe California bill works particularly well for California.Other states have different needs.I believe that the increased use of hybrid vehicles presents an opportunity to reduce our dependence oil imports and improve air quality.

Both Issa and Sherman introduced versions of this bill last session but neither was passed into law before the 108^th Congress adjourned.

For more information or a copy of the legislation, contact Frederick Hill at Frederick.Hill@mail.house.gov or Sharon Singh at Sharon.Singh@mail.house.gov