CHICAGO (AP) -- Patrons of Illinois' toll road who car pool or drive hybrids will be able to use designated express lanes under a plan being introduced by Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The "green lanes" will be located along the busiest stretches of tollways, with the goal of reducing congestion, braking and acceleration - thereby cutting emissions. If approved by the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, the lanes, to be carved from existing lanes, could be in place by 2010.
The Chicago Sun-Times reports that the proposed green lanes also will be high-occupancy toll lanes that allow solo drivers to use the lanes.
Solo drivers would be charged a yet-to-be-disclosed premium rate above the existing cost of a toll for the right to use the lane. But cars with at least two people inside, as well as buses, hybrids and electric or fuel cell vehicles, would pay the current I-Pass rate, the Sun-Times reports.
Tolls would be deducted electronically from vehicles, although details on how the tollway would differentiate between types of cars or count how many people are inside were not immediately clear.
Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero noted there is technology that uses heat sensors to count car occupants.