Tom Warne Report, 25 September 2013
Two bills going to Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk for a signature include one that would improve congestion in Southern California, and another that would target hit-and-run offenders. The Assembly voted 69-1 to pass a measure that would open up carpool lanes to all highway drivers in the Los Angeles area during non-peak travel times and on weekends. Senate lawmakers previously approved the bill that would help traffic on the 134 Freeway between Studio City to Pasadena and on the 210 Freeway between Pasadena and Glendora.
AB405 would set up a pilot program that would limit carpool usage between 6 and 10 a.m. and again between 4 and 7 p.m. on weekdays. Northern California has set similar carpool limitations. Assemblyman Paul Gatto, D-Los Angeles, said the carpool lanes are designed to encourage carpooling during rush hour and improve the environment.
“I support these goals. But when motorists are stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic at midnight while carpool lanes sit empty, those goals are not met,” Gatto said in a news release. Another bill, also by Gatto, addresses fatal hit-and-run crashes, and was unanimously approved to double the statute of limitations from three years to six years.
This story is a little odd. So, the carpool lanes help the environment in rush hours, but, don’t help with the environment at midnight. Is that because the environment is different at night? JN