Not so fast. That's what a federal study found about more than half of the Bay Area's carpool lanes.
The federal study shows of the 400 miles os so-called fast lanes, more than half are not meeting requirements for keeping traffic moving. Traffic flow should be 45 mph for 90 percent of the time -- rules Caltrans officials said are not realistic in the Bay Area, especially once accidents are added in.
Caltrans Deputy District Director of Traffic Operations Sean Nozzari said there are five to 10 incidens reported a day.
The heavy traffic is being blamed on a booming economy. Critics of the Bay Area's carpool system said there are too many inconsistencies with how the lanes operate.
While carpool times may be the same, some countries have express lanes where solo drivers can pay to use the lanes.
The Bay Bridge requires three occupants for the carpool lane, but in other areas it only takes two occupants.
Authorities said there are possible solutions being looked at to help ease congestion, but will not be implemented any time soon.
Local
One place where drivers will see some changes is along Interstate 580 near the Interstate 680 interchange in Pleasanton and Livermore. Eastbound traffic will have an express lane and a carpool lane, while westbound traffic will get a carpool lane. The changes are expected to be implemented this fall.
