HOV Brochure
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P F 3 e O 3 d 5 e B 3 r o 0 a x l F 9 W i r Contact Us! 7 s t a 1 W y 8 , a W y A S o PUBLIC WORKS 9 u 8 t h 0 “What Your 6 253-661-4131 3 - 9 Washington 7 1 PUBLIC SAFETY 8 Driver Guide Does Not 253-661-4707 Teach E-MAIL This guide will You.” [email protected] ex p la in t o dr iv er s WEB SITE t he b est wa y t o cityoffederalway.com n a v iga t e o ur C it y usin g H O V la n es a n d U-t ur n s sa f ely , lega lly , a n d ef f ic ien t ly . BROUGHT TO YOU BY YOUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT As you may have USING HOV MYTH: When exiting business driveways and LEGAL noticed, Federal entering the roadway, I must drive through the HOV lane and enter traffic directly in the general Way is now home LANES U-TURNS purpose or ”through” lane to HOV lanes The City is along many of our The most common FACT: NO! The HOV lanes are intended as encouraging use of major roadways. question drivers of a single- acceleration lanes for vehicles entering the LEGAL U-turns HOV lanes have been installed on S 348th occupancy vehicle ask is: roadway. Enter the HOV lane to accelerate, and where appropriate. Street, on SR 99 (S 312th to S 324th), and on “When and where am I change lanes at your first safe opportunity. Because of newly S 320th Street. The completion of the Pacific supposed to enter the HOV constructed medians Hwy S HOV Lanes Phase II Project will extend lane to make a right turn? Alternately, you may continue traveling in the along SR 99, drivers HOV lane to turn right at the next signalized are restricted to right HOV lanes to S 340th Street. intersection or turn right into another driveway. turns into and out of Answer: “It is legal for you Many drivers want to know why the inside to occupy the HOV lane from ONE SIGNALIZED businesses, and U-turns will be occurring with lane was not designated as the carpool lane, intersection to the following signalized intersection.” EXITING HOV greater frequency. rather than the general purpose or “through” However, you must exit the HOV lane by either LANES lane, as is done on freeways. Designating the turning right at the intersection, right into a Drivers in the inside left-turn lane as signed business, or by changing lanes to the left. with a green signal are legally permitted to curb lane is necessary to allow for bus passengers to load and unload safely Single-occupancy vehicles make U-turns. These drivers have the right of C it y o f F eder a l W a y o f f ic er s will (SOV) are legally able to way over vehicles taking a “free right hand at the curb, and to also allow for right turn utilize the HOV lanes. In movements. sit e H O V la n e a b use wit h t heir o wn turn” on a red signal. disc r et io n some cases, SOV’s are required to utilize the HOV W H E N M A K IN G L E G A L R IG H T TUR N S The objective of installing HOV lanes in the lanes. However, it is A T R E D S IG N A L S , IT IS IM P O R TA N T city streets is to improve traffic & pedestrian Below are clarifications to common myths important for SOV drivers to TO R E M E M B E R TO Y IE L D & W A TC H safety and circulation; support the use of associated with urban HOV Lanes: know when they must exit F O R V E H IC L E S M A K IN G U-TUR N S . transit and carpools, and right turn this restricted lane. movements. MYTH: This sign means the same as the HOV MYTH: Once stopped at a steady red signal, signs on the Freeway. This sign is intended to remind/inform SOV’s that they MUST TURN RIGHT AT THE a driver turning right has right of way over While these improvements will certainly INTERSECTION. vehicles making U-Turns. accomplish their objectives, many drivers have FACT: NO! This sign has been modified to not encountered urban HOV lanes, and aren’t allow right turning movements. It is ILLEGAL to proceed through the intersection FACT: NO! A vehicle turning right is sure how to use them. if you are not an HOV unless you are turning right required by law to yield to through traffic, MYTH: I have to make a right turn into a into the first driveway after the intersection. This pedestrians, and U-turns. If after reviewing this guide, you still have business from the travel lane, not the HOV lane. illegal maneuver will be enforced by the Federal Way Police Department. Tha n k y o u f o r k eep in g t hese unanswered questions, please contact us by e- guidelin es in t o c o n sider a t io n a s y o u mail, [email protected] FACT: NO! A right-turning vehicle is HOV’s, including buses, may legally proceed t r a v el t he st r eet s o f F eder a l W a y . or by calling the Public Works Department at REQUIRED to turn into driveways from the straight through the intersection, continuing their P lea se r em em b er t o dr iv e 253-661-4131. HOV lane. It is ILLEGAL to turn right from the travel in the HOV lane. c o ur t eo usly , sa f ely , a n d travel lane. wit h c a r e. .