The Valley Freeway recently made way for high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, a pilot project provided through the Washington State Department of Transportation.

HOT lanes allow solo drivers to pay an electronic toll to use carpool lanes previously reserved for vehicles with two or more occupants along a section of State Route 167, between Auburn and Renton. Toll rates will fluctuate based on congestion factors, including time of day, traffic volumes and traffic flow.

WEDNESDAY’S TRAFFIC

5 a.m. to 10 a.m. peak morning commute by the numbers (total 381 tolling transactions:

NORTHBOUND

Toll transactions: 349

Percentage of toll payers in HOT lane: 11 percent

HOT lane volume: 3,470 vehicles

General purpose lane volume: 16,090 vehicles

Average GP lane travel time: 17 minutes

Average HOT lane travel time: 11 minutes

Average time saved: 6 min.

Average toll paid: $1.05

Highest toll displayed: $2.25

Highest toll paid: $2.25

SOUTHBOUND

Tolling transactions: 32

HOT lane volume: 844 vehicles

General purpose lane volume: 11,687 vehicles

Average GP lane travel time:

8 minutes.

Average HOT lane travel time: 7 minutes.

Average time saved: 1 minute

Average toll paid: 60 cents

Highest toll paid: $1

View the SR 167 HOT Lanes

Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes.