HOV / Carpooling

The Port Mann/Highway 1 (PMH1) Improvement Project is designed to help manage planned growth throughout the region. The improvements will help with the movement of goods and people through the region through added capacity, such as new lanes and the new, 10-lane Port Mann bridge, and through enhanced transportation choices. These expanded transportation choices include new transit services, extended High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and dedicated on- and off-ramps, as well as new cycling paths with improved connections over Highway 1. Together, these measures help to reduce traffic growth in the long term.

HOV Lane Expansion and Improvements

New, dedicated HOV on-ramps and off-ramps at the Grandview Highway Interchange
New, dedicated Transit/HOV on-ramps and off-ramps at the 156 Street Interchange
New, dedicated Transit/HOV on-ramps and off-ramps at the 202 Street Interchange
Dedicated HOV Lanes from Grandview Highway to 202 Street in Langley (Currently HOV lanes are available between the Grandview Highway Interchange to just east of the Port Mann Bridge.)

These dedicated ramps provide HOV travelers with quick and convenient access to Highway 1, particularly during peak commuter travel periods and the extended lanes provide HOV access from Vancouver to Langley. The extension of the HOV lanes is made possible through the addition of one additional lane east and westbound between the Port Mann Bridge and Grandview Highway, for a total of four lanes in each direction, including one HOV lane, and the addition of two lanes east and westbound east of the Port Mann Bridge to 202 Street, for a total of four lanes in each direction, including one HOV lane.

Temporary HOV Schedule Changes

As part of improving traffic flow and reducing delays related to construction for the PMH1 Project, HOV lanes on Highway 1 will be designated for high occupancy vehicles between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. daily, and will be open to all traffic between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. daily. This temporary adjustment began on April 19, 2010 and applies to HOV lanes between Grandview Highway and the Port Mann Bridge (both east and westbound) for the balance of construction.

What to expect:

From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily, HOV lanes are designated for high occupancy vehicles. During this period, vehicles must have two or more occupants to travel in this lane.
From 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, the HOV lanes will be open to all vehicles, regardless of the number of occupants in the vehicle.

This HOV schedule adjustment is in place to minimize delays during nighttime lane closures, which are required for the widening of Highway 1 and rebuilding of several overpass and interchange structures. Since HOV traffic is significantly lower during the night, allowing all lanes to be used by general traffic will provide two general traffic lanes, which will reduce construction-related delays and improve safety and efficiency for all vehicles. This temporary schedule is in effect seven days a week for the duration of the PMH1 Project, which is on schedule for completion in 2013. Upon project completion, the HOV lanes will be back on a full, 24-hour schedule.

Carpooling

Carpooling is a great way to take advantage of dedicated HOV lanes and access ramps, save on transportation costs and help to reduce traffic congestion in the region. The PMH1 Project includes a number of improvements to promote carpooling, including expansions to HOV lanes and Highway 1 access and additional Park & Ride facilities. Registered carpools also benefit from a 25% discount on bridge tolls during peak commuter traffic periods.

New Park & Ride Facilities

202 Street Park & Ride Highlights

Up to 800 parking spaces located to the south of Highway 1 at 202 Street
HOV/Transit only on- and off-ramps to and from Highway 1, connecting to the Park & Ride and 86 Avenue via 202 Street
An HOV/transit only connection from 88 Avenue to Highway 1 and the Park and Ride
Relocated Transit Exchange – the existing exchange at 200 Street will be relocated to 202 Street, allowing more parking spaces and improved access to highway 1 and the Golden Ears Bridge for buses
A new pedestrian and cyclist trail connected to the Langley trail system
Improvements to local wildlife habitat areas and drainage:

Area fish habitat will be enhanced and connected directly to Latimer Creek
A new storm water drainage pond will address drainage issues and improve local flood protection.
Landscaping and additional trees will be planted throughout the Park & Ride.

The Park & Ride will be the eastern hub for the new Highway 1 RapidBus, providing transit service as fast, or faster, than travelling by car. This will be the first reliable transit over the Port Mann Bridge in more than 20 ears. Benefits include:

Transit users can travel from the Park & Ride to the Lougheed Skytrain Station in less than 25 minutes.
Buses will run every 10-15 minutes during peak periods.
More than 20,000 people are expected to use this service by 2031, reducing greenhouse gases by 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes per year.

160 Street Interchange Park & Ride

The new 160 Street Interchange will provide significant improvements for drivers coming to and from Highway 1 as well as for drivers crossing from one side of the highway to the other. The new interchange streamlines traffic flow and separates major traffic movements, reducing conflict points at intersections and improving. The new Park & Ride at 160 Street and 103 Avenue will further support these congestion-reduction measures by providing a convenient location for carpooling connections.

Carpooling Opportunities

Travelers interested in finding carpool opportunities may find assistance using the Jack Bell Ride-Share program. Jack Bell Ride-Share is operated by The Jack Bell Foundation which is a registered charitable BC Society funded by TransLink and BC Transit to operate Canada's only large-scale public vanpooling service and provide BC "exclusive" online ridematching. For more information, visit the Jack Bell Ride-Share site for BC.