I-75 In Oakland County Is Getting Carpool Lanes After Final House OK

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI — Carpool lanes may be coming to Interstate 75 in southern Oakland County after the Michigan House approved legislation Tuesday.

The legislation, HB 4352 and 4353, is on its way to Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's desk. She is expected to sign the bills.

The carpool lanes, or high occupancy vehicle lanes, are expected to be along Interstate 75 between 12 Mile Road and South Boulevard, roughly a 15-mile stretch. It would be the first such lanes in Michigan.

Any vehicle with more than one person would be allowed to use the designated lane from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays, according to the legislation.

Emergency vehicles, law enforcement vehicles, buses and motorcycles will be exempt from the lanes, according to the legislation.

A driver found violating carpool lane restrictions could be penalized with a civil fine of at least $250, according to the legislation.

The lanes will be built along with the Interstate 75 Modernization project, meaning federal dollars will be used to fund the project. It was unclear how much the project would cost taxpayers.

Once the package is signed, state lawmakers said the lanes could be ready to go in roughly two-three weeks. The freeway is expected to open by the end of September after years of work.

Officials hope the new lanes will reduce congestion from normal lanes during rush hour and improve overall traffic operations, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Michigan would become the 20th state to use high occupancy vehicle lanes on its freeways, according to the Federal Highway Administration.