TORONTO, Ont. — One year after opening the first high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes in Ontario plans are underway for similar lanes in other parts of the province.

According to the provinces Department of Transportation the current HOV lanes on Highways 403 and 404 have been a success saving commuters 14 to 17 minutes per trip.

Transit users can benefit from the HOV lanes since buses of all types have access to HOV lanes.

“HOV lanes provide commuters with travel choices, promote carpooling and transit use. Using carpool lanes just make sense. Drivers save time, and we all breathe a little easier,” said Transport Minister Donna Cansfield.

The Ministry is working with the OPP to ensure that the lanes are a safe option for commuters and transit users. The OPP reports issuing approximately 250 tickets per month since the opening of HOV lanes.

According to the Department of Transportation HOV lane compliance is well below the 10% threshold in other jurisdictions. Misuse of the lanes is at 4.5% on Highway 403 and 2.5% on Highway 404 southbound.

The next anticipated HOV lane on Hwy. 404 from Hwy. 401 to Hwy. 7 is scheduled to open in summer 2007. An HOV lane will also be introduced on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa, between Palladium Drive and Hwy. 416.

The Province is also working to build HOV lanes on other 400-series highways including the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW).