The second step uses the revenues to increase commuter choices with expanded Altamont Commuter Express train service and express buses. The third step increases the capacity of the new lane by separating it from congested traffic. A final step operates the new lane as a reversible lane that serves northbound traffic in the evening. If this were the only step taken, however, the carpool lane would not be fully utilized. There are not enough three-person carpools to make efficient use of the lane space.
Transponders are wallet-sized electronic devices that clip to the car's sun visor.
Drivers are billed monthly only for the trips they take. To increase capacity and to avoid interrupting the flow in the faster-moving Express Lane, the new lane should be separated from the other lanes. This can be done either by use of pylons, or by use of a fixed or movable barrier. In addition to maximizing throughput of the Express Lane, separation also simplifies enforcement. An intermediate exit for traffic bound for the Mission South exit will suffice.