I-93 Express Lane/HOV

Welcome

The MassHighway High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Program includes the Southeast Expressway HOV Lane and the I-93 North of Boston Carpool Lane. MassHighway developed these lanes to encourage ridesharing and improve the flow of traffic during weekday morning and afternoon commutes. Vehicles must be less than 2.5 tons (most passenger cars) and have 2 or more occupants to use these lanes. Motorcycles, even with one rider, can use the lanes as well as buses.

The MassHighway HOV Program promotes ridesharing through a variety of activities, including 25 park-and-ride lots and MassRIDES, a statewide ridesharing program that connects commuters to an array of bus, vanpool and carpool support services.

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I-93 Southeast Expressway HOV Lane

The HOV Lane extends six miles north from Furnace Brook Parkway in Quincy to Freeport Street in Dorchester. It is open Monday through Friday (except some holidays) to northbound HOV traffic between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. and to southbound HOV traffic between 3:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.

A special "Zipper Truck" drives over a six mile, flexible barrier wall, lifting it away from the median and setting it down a lane's width away, creating a protected carpool lane on the opposite side of the highway. After the commuting period is over, the "zipper truck" again drives over the barrier wall, lifting it up and setting it down next to the median.

By borrowing a lane from the off-peak side of the Expressway, the "zipper truck" creates five lanes for northbound traffic and three lanes for southbound traffic in the morning. During the afternoon commuting period, there are five lanes for southbound traffic and three for northbound traffic.

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HOV General Information

Location
The HOV Lane extends six miles north from Furnace Brook Parkway in Quincy to Freeport Street in Dorchester.

Operating Hours
The HOV Lane is open from Monday through Friday (except designated holidays), from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. for northbound traffic and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. for southbound traffic.

Eligibility
Vehicles must be less than 2.5 tons (most passenger cars) and have 2 or more occupants to use these lanes. Motorcycles, even with one rider, can use the lanes as well as buses.

State Police Patrols
Emergency vehicles, State Police patrols, and other law enforcement vehicles may only use this lane when responding to an emergency.

Enforcement
Massachusetts State Police officers monitor the entrance to the HOV Lane and redirect ineligible vehicles back into the general purpose lanes. Violators of the HOV Lane are subject to a citation with a $50.00 fine.

Accidents/Incidents/Breakdowns
MassHighway has developed a fully integrated system to detect and respond to incidents in the HOV Lane. Video cameras, radar detectors, State police, tow truck operators, and MassHighway personnel quickly detect and respond to problems in the HOV Lane.

If you are in an accident or breakdown please call 911 and make every effort to stay in your vehicle and wait for emergency response personnel.

For your safety
Use caution when approaching the entry to the HOV Lane. The advisory speed for entering the lane is 35 miles per hour. Once in the lane, observe the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Keep in mind however that conditions may require a reduced speed. When exiting the Lane, wait for a safe opportunity to exit before merging with traffic. Pay attention to variable message signs along I-93 approaching the Lane. These signs will inform you if the Lane is closed and display other traffic related information.

Frequently asked questions and answers about the Southeast HOV Lane are available here.

Additional HOV Information
Contact MassHighway at (617) 973-7784 or email us at feedback@MHD.state.ma.us.

Information on Traffic Conditions
Call 511 from a cell phone or 617-374-1234 from either a cell or landline phone.

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I-93 North of Boston Carpool Lane

This permanent two-mile southbound HOV lane runs between Medford and Boston on Interstate 93. It is open from Monday through Friday (except designated holidays), from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The lane is open to all traffic at all other times.

Driving southbound on I-93, vehicles with two or more occupants and motorcycles may enter the lane after the Mystic Avenue on-ramp in Medford. The lane ends at the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge at the I-93/Route 1 merge. Because there are no other entrances or exits for the lane, drivers who do not want to travel the length of the lane should not enter.

Frequently asked questions and answers about the I-93 North of Boston Carpool Lane are available here.

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Carpool Lane General Information

Location
This permanent two-mile southbound HOV lane runs between Medford and Boston on Interstate 93.

Operating Hours
The Lane is open from Monday through Friday (except designated holidays), from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. The lane is open to all traffic at all other times.

Eligibitity
Vehicles must be less than 2.5 tons (most passenger cars) and have 2 or more occupants to use these lanes. Motorcycles, even with one rider, can use the lanes as well as buses.

State Police Patrols
Emergency vehicles, State Police patrols, and other law enforcement vehicles may only use this lane when responding to an emergency.

Enforcement
Massachusetts State Police officers monitor the Lane. Violators of the Lane are subject to a citation with a $50.00 fine.

Accidents/Incidents/Breakdowns
If you are in an accident or breakdown please call 911 and make every effort to stay in your vehicle and wait for emergency response personnel.

For your safety
Use caution when approaching the entry to the Lane. Once in the lane, observe the posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Keep in mind however that conditions may require a reduced speed. When exiting the Lane, wait for a safe opportunity to exit before merging with traffic. Pay attention to any variable message signs that will inform you if the Lane is closed and display other traffic related information.

Additional I-93 North of Boston Carpool Information
Contact MassHighway at (617) 973-7784 or email us at feedback@MHD.state.ma.us.

Information on Traffic Conditions
Call 511 from a cell phone or 617-374-1234 from either a cell or landline phone.

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Ridesharing Information

Call MassRIDES at 1-888-4COMMUTE (426-6688) or click on the link or image below to join or form a carpool or vanpool, check bus schedules, learn about Park and Ride lots in your area, or inquire about other commuting alternatives.
MassRIDES Logo
www.commute.com

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