Ontario carpooling lanes a 'success' in 1st year

Ontario's transportation minister trumpeted the success of the province's two carpooling lanes Wednesday, exactly one year after they were created.

Donna Cansfield said the so-called high-occupancyvehicle (HOV)lanes on Highway 403 and southbound Highway 404 have been an "unqualified success."

She said motoristsin the special lanes are saving an average of 17 minutes per trip, whiledrivers in regular lanes havealso experienced better traffic flow.

The HOV lanes are reserved for vehicleswith at least two people.

Cansfield was widely expected to announce additional HOV lanes for Highway 400 from Toronto to Barrie, but she denied that was ever the case.

She said any new HOV laneswill be announced next month aspart of a larger transportation strategy.

A carpooling lane isunder construction on northbound Highway 404 and is expected to open this spring.