HOV lanes; degradation; technical correction

HB 2816 clarifies when high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes are considered "degraded" by establishing a specific speed standard: lanes are degraded if vehicles fail to maintain 45 mph for 90% of the time during weekday peak hours over 180 consecutive days. When lanes degrade, use is restricted to priority vehicles in this order: two-occupant passenger vehicles, public transit buses, multi-occupant buses, motorcycles, and low-emission/alternative fuel vehicles. This technical correction updates Arizona’s HOV lane rules to better maintain lane efficiency during congestion. The bill directly affects drivers using HOV lanes during peak commute times in Arizona.