This article digs into how Caltrans is finally responding to months of commuter feedback by tweaking High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane hours on Highway 101. This stretch connects Marin and Sonoma counties and, honestly, it’s a lifeline for a lot of folks. After a wave of frustration over expanded commute-hour restrictions last fall, state transportation officials are pulling back morning HOV hours while keeping the evening rules. A lot of drivers from Mill Valley to Windsor seem pretty relieved.
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A Change Coming to Highway 101 Commute Hours
If you drive Highway 101 through Marin County, you’ve probably noticed things have changed these past several months. After the Marin‑Sonoma Narrows Project wrapped up, Caltrans expanded HOV lane restrictions along about 52 miles of freeway.
That stretch runs from Mill Valley and Sausalito through Novato and all the way into Sonoma County towns like Petaluma, Santa Rosa, and Windsor. The goal was simple enough: cut down on congestion and get more people carpooling, using transit, or riding the SMART Train.
But for a lot of daily commuters—people going between Corte Madera, Larkspur, San Rafael, and beyond—it just felt like too much.
What the New HOV Rules Will Look Like
Starting in late February, Caltrans plans to shorten the morning HOV restrictions and leave the evening hours as they are. Here’s the new breakdown:
This replaces the earlier 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. morning schedule. Many drivers in Tiburon, Greenbrae, and Novato said the old hours left valuable roadway empty while traffic was actually moving fine.
Grassroots Pushback Makes an Impact
The new schedule is really the result of months of pushback from commuters, local transportation officials, and elected leaders all over Marin County. In places like Fairfax, San Anselmo, Strawberry, and Belvedere, people kept saying the same thing: HOV lanes sat empty while everyone else crawled along in traffic.
Caltrans spokesperson Matt O’Donnell said the agency got the message. He explained that the decision shows Caltrans really does pay attention when policies aren’t working out as planned.
Replacing Signs and Making the Switch
Switching things over won’t happen instantly. Caltrans says it’ll take a few weeks to swap out the many HOV signs dotting the corridor.
Most of the work will happen at night to avoid disrupting drivers moving through San Rafael, Novato, and southern Sonoma County.
Why Supporters Say This Makes Sense
Transportation advocates and county officials believe shorter, targeted commute hours might actually work better. By focusing restrictions on the busiest times, HOV lanes could do more to encourage:
Outside peak hours, letting everyone use the lane should help smooth out bottlenecks, especially for folks making short trips within Marin.
Commuters React from Mill Valley to Windsor
Plenty of drivers say the rollback probably won’t change their commute times much. Traffic is usually light during the newly restored morning hours anyway.
But for people heading out early from Mill Valley or Sausalito toward Sonoma County, this extra flexibility is a real relief.
Looking Ahead: Flexibility for a Changing Workforce
Caltrans isn’t closing the book on future changes. With remote work and hybrid schedules shaking up how people commute, officials admit HOV policies may need to keep adapting.
Right now, the late-February change feels like a compromise. It’s shaped by real-world driving and the voices of Marin County residents who count on Highway 101.
As traffic keeps shifting from Corte Madera to Windsor, many commuters are cautiously optimistic. Maybe this more balanced approach will make that daily drive just a bit less maddening.
Reporting from Marin County with over 30 years of transportation and community coverage experience.
Here is the source article for this story: Highway 101 commute hours shortened in Marin and Sonoma counties
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