In hopes of rewarding carpoolers with faster morning commutes, the state is increasing the number of people required in vehicles driving on the H-1 Freeway Zipper Lane and the Nimitz Highway contraflow lane from two to three — a move expected to decrease the number of cars in the lanes by about 300 daily.

The change will go into effect July 8, and comes as many Zipper Lane users are actually seeing longer morning drive times, by as much as 20 minutes, than those in the general lanes.

Brennon Morioka, state Department of Transportation director, conceded that the minimum-occupancy increase will likely inconvenience people at first, especially those who have to scramble for another passenger or face steering clear of the Zipper Lane.

But eventually, he said, "we believe we'll be able to move more people in fewer cars."

If the Zipper Lane change works, the new restriction could spread to other contraflow and high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Kalaniana'ole Highway, H-2 Freeway and Moanalua Freeway, Morioka added.

When it opened in 1998, the Zipper Lane required at least three people per car. The requirement was dropped to two people in summer 2005, after residents and lawmakers complained the Zipper Lane was being underused. The lane now carries about 3,800 cars every weekday morning (from 5:30 to 8:30 a.m.), up from about 2,300 cars in 1998.

Once the new requirement takes effect, the state expects to see about 3,500 cars in the lane.

NATIONAL TREND

Panos Prevedouros, a University of Hawai'i professor who specializes in traffic engineering, said cities across the country are moving from traditionally two-person requirements for high-occupancy vehicle lanes to restricting the lanes to cars with three people or more, largely to improve the appeal of HOV lanes.

He said the lanes have become flooded under the two-person system.

Requiring three people per car often means the lanes provide a sure bet of a faster commute.

But some drivers aren't thrilled with the new rules. In Los Angeles, San Francisco and other large urban centers that are considering or have already moved to three-person restrictions, drivers are protesting the changes, arguing the benefits don't outweigh the costs to those shoved into the general driving lanes.

"Most of California is at two people per car. That is the standard," said Prevedouros.

"They are having resistance" in efforts to change it, he added.

MIXED REACTIONS HERE

West O'ahu residents who use the Zipper Lane had mixed reactions yesterday about the switch.

Richard Oshiro, chairman of the Waipahu Neighborhood Board, said the HOV change will only further congest the other lanes.

"I think it works better the way it is," said Oshiro, who said he occasionally uses the Zipper Lane. "I think we should maximize all the lanes, then everybody saves more time. With the change, you're going to have more people in the other lanes and less, obviously, in the Zipper Lane."

Kurt Fevella, vice chairman of the 'Ewa Neighborhood Board, said he would support the change if the other HOV lane on H-1 Freeway west-bound, located next to the Zipper Lane, were converted into a general-use lane. It won't be, Morioka said, but cars with only two people will still be able to use it.

The Zipper Lane change is welcome news for James Gowler, a driver in the Vanpool Hawai'i program.

The 60-year-old Mililani resident said the Zipper Lane has become increasingly congested.

"When schools are in, driving in the Zipper Lane doesn't really make that much difference," he said.

Gowler has six people in his vanpool, all of whom work at Tripler Army Medical Center.

Morioka said the change was timed during the summer so commuters would get used to the new occupancy rule before thousands of students return to the roads. And he said he believes drivers will be more receptive to the changes now, with soaring gas prices spurring more people to carpool or take the bus.

The state also noted that taking the Zipper Lane isn't always paying off.

From 5:30 to 6:30 a.m., it takes about 50 minutes on average in the Zipper Lane from Kapolei to Kukahi Street in 'Iwilei, compared with 34 minutes in the general-purpose lanes. Starting out at 6:15 a.m. from Kapolei, it takes 80 minutes in the Zipper Lane to get to Kukahi Street, compared with 75 minutes in open lanes, according to state DOT statistics.

The Zipper Lane and Nimitz Highway contraflow lane stretch 15 miles from Waikele to Downtown.

Morioka said the state has been working with police to make sure the new rules are enforced.

Technically, officers will be able to issue fines for those with fewer than three people starting the morning of July 8. But Morioka said officers will be able to use their judgment and could issue warnings to those unaware of the change. As it is, police periodically patrol the Zipper Lane to make sure cars have at least two people.