Carpool, HOV and Mixed-Use Lanes

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Over the past ten years, the California Department of Transportation has built 1000 miles of restricted highway lanes to encourage car-pooling, but the US Census Bureau says there-s been no progress in getting commuters to use them. This drop, combined with an overall increase in drivers, has resulted in remaining highway lanes being jammed with traffic. Are high-occupancy and mixed-use lanes effective in getting drivers out of their cars and reducing congestion and air pollution, or has the car culture created a demand for personal space and freedom that Californians just won-t give up? We hear from the director of Caltrans, state Senator Tom McClintock, who-s introduced a bill requiring traffic studies before a carpool lane is built, and a professor who-s taught a course on the role of the auto in society.
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California Air Resources Board

California Clean Air Act

California Energy Commission

US Census Bureau

Census 2000

Credits

Host:

Warren Olney

Producer:

Frances Anderton