Highway 101 in Marin and Sonoma counties, shown prior to the opening of HOV lanes, has experienced heavy traffic since the introduction of longer HOV lane hours earlier this year. (Photo provided by Caltrans)
North Bay commutes might have some relief in sight in 2026. After significantly expanding the duration of the HOV lane hours during the peak morning and afternoon commutes, Caltrans has agreed to review and update carpool lane limits following vocal backlash from commuters whose time stuck in stop-and-go traffic increased markedly since the new times went into effect in September.
Caltrans has agreed to complete a traffic data analysis and determine permanent HOV lane hours by the end of January 2026, then quickly implement the updated HOV hours with signage changes reflecting the new hours in February, North Bay transportation officials said Dec. 19 in an announcement.
The unpopular carpool lane time increase came on the heels of the opening of new north- and south-bound lanes along the so-called Novato Narrows, an infamous commute bottleneck that had slowed traffic for decades prior to last summer’s completion of the years-long project to widen the 16-mile stretch. Caltrans in September changed the HOV lane hours to conform with those used throughout most of the rest of the Bay Area. Marin transportation officials raised concerns about added slowdowns at the time, and commuters almost universally panned the new hours when they went fully into effect.
