Body of News Release
Marin County, CA – Changes are officially coming for operational hours of high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes on Highway 101 in Marin and Sonoma counties.
The hours are reducing from 5-10 AM and 3-7 PM, to 6-9 AM and 3-6:30 PM. They will take effect in late February when updates are made to HOV hours signage and will be consistent in both counties. The change is expected to bring much-needed relief to commuters.
The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) announced the adjustment, following its commitment in December to determine new hours after a January traffic analysis. The reduction in hours follows ongoing concern from commuters and sustained advocacy by local and state elected officials and regional transportation agencies.
The County of Marin, led by Supervisor Eric Lucan, secured the change through partnership with State Assemblymember Damon Connolly, the Transportation Authority of Marin (TAM), and the Sonoma County Transportation and Climate Authority (SCTCA).
“We celebrated the long-anticipated opening of the third lane through the Marin-Sonoma Narrows,” Lucan said, “but early concerns we raised about the new HOV hours creating congestion proved valid. We heard clearly from constituents frustrated by longer commutes, and I appreciate Caltrans’ willingness to listen and adjust the hours to better match peak travel times while continuing to support carpooling and transit.”
Connolly, who represents all of Marin and parts of Sonoma County at the State Capitol, welcomed the change.
“Elevating the voices of our North Bay residents and working with our county partners, we have been able to expedite the timeline to change HOV hours to better reflect the needs of our commuters and prevent unnecessary traffic congestion,” Connolly said. “Thank you to Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), TAM, SCTCA, and Caltrans for responding to the needs of the communities and residents who travel the Marin-Sonoma Narrows Corridor.”
Mayor of San Rafael Kate Colin, who is also the TAM Chair, said the updated HOV hours strike the right balance for North Bay commuters.
“Aligning the hours more closely with peak travel times helps make the daily commute more predictable, while supporting transit and shared rides,” she said. “We appreciate the responsiveness of our transportation partners Caltrans, MTC, and our Sonoma County colleagues and the shared commitment to keep people and goods moving safely and efficiently along the US-101 corridor.”
“We asked and Caltrans listened,” said SCTCA Chair Lynda Hopkins. “The new hours will maintain our commitment to encouraging carpooling and transit use while also avoiding hours of unnecessary gridlock for North Bay commuters. I appreciate the partnership we have with Caltrans, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission, and the Transportation Authority of Marin to implement the updated carpool hours for Sonoma and Marin.”
Caltrans provides occasional updates on the 101 Marin-Sonoma Narrows carpool lanes.