What's the deal with DC's new BUS ONLY lanes? How do I avoid getting ticketed?!
For years I've gotten my hair done at a salon in Capitol Hill (shoutout to Cole Stevens, a fantastic black woman-owned small business). A few months ago, the talk in the shop wasn't about blowouts, highlights, or natural versus processed hair.
It was about the new BUS-ONLY lane in front of the shop.
From the stylists to the clients, the questions were fast and furious (literally), "Where do we park? Can we park in the BUS-ONLY lanes? Will we get ticketed if we park in the Bus Only lane? If so, how much are the tickets, and will we be towed? Can we drive in the BUS ONLY lanes?"
No one had a clue, even those who parked in the BUS ONLY lanes with a prayer to Jesus and the hair gods that their car would still be there when they left the salon.
To be fair, available parking on Pennsylvania Avenue, SE, in Capitol Hill has always been hit or miss. I usually add ten minutes to my commute to find an open parking space. Once the BUS ONLY lanes arrived, I wanted to avoid parking on Pennsylvania Avenue, no matter how many cars I saw parked in the BUS ONLY lane (and there were a lot), so my allotment for parking increased from ten minutes to 20 minutes. The upside is my salon is moving off of Pennsylvania Avenue, so fingers crossed I can resume my "barely on time" commute.
So on my next visit to the salon (which at this point is weekly), we were once again talking about the new BUS-ONLY lanes. So I decided to look into the program further because if I had questions, I knew others had to have questions too. And you will want to know what’s in store because, after the 45-day warning period (beginning July 24, 2023), fines will range from $100 - $200, depending on the infraction. And Metro is going to get their money! They are installing automated cameras on buses serving select routes in DC.
So see below for information from DDOT on the ins and outs of the Clear Lanes Program. You can also go here to learn about other projects in the works, including projects east of the river.
I hope this information is helpful, and I would love to hear your opinion in the 'Comments' section. Do you support this program? Are you in favor of the BUS-ONLY lanes east of the river? Did you understand this program before today?
The Advoc8te
P.S. If someone from DDOT is reading this post (and I know you are 😂), could DDOT partner with the DMV to send an informative email to DC drivers outlining the Clear Lanes Program along with some helpful FAQs on parking and ticketing? A once of prevention is worth a pound of cure, or in this case, tickets. 😉
Clear Lanes Program
The Clear Lanes Project is a joint initiative between Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) and DDOT that aims to improve bus travel times and enhance bus stop safety by using camera technology to identify illegally parked and stopped vehicles in dedicated bus lanes and bus zones.
Program Details:
Metro will mount automated cameras on buses serving select routes in DC. These cameras automatically take photos of violating vehicles and send information directly to DDOT for enforcement. Metro anticipates that the Clear Lanes project will be ready to roll out in Fall 2023, with a 45-day warning period beginning July 24, 2023.
Fines:
The fine for unauthorized vehicles driving, standing and parking in a bus lane is $200
The fine for unauthorized vehicles parking or standing in a bus zone is $100
Per DC Municipal Regulation Rule 18-2217, the following vehicles are permitted in bus lanes: Transit buses, tour buses, and school buses; bicycles (except pedicabs); paratransit service vehicles; authorized emergency vehicles.
Bus Lanes:
Bus lanes are restricted to buses and bikes as well as other permitted users (listed above), and are designated by signage, pavement markings, and red paint. All other vehicles are prohibited from driving, stopping, or standing in the bus lanes when they are in operation, except to make turns. Vehicles are permitted to enter the bus lane to make a turn at an intersection, alley, or driveway as permitted by signage and pavement markings. If no sign is posted, vehicles are permitted to enter the bus lane 40 feet in advance of a turn. The red paint will typically be hatched to indicate where vehicles can enter the lane to make a right turn.
For more information about bus lane and bus zone enforcement visit DDOT's FAQ website.