CBS Atlanta 46Gwinnett County buses not using new I-85 HOT lane entry

Gwinnett County Transit buses are not using the new HOT lane access point along the southbound lanes of I-85 in northern Gwinnett County, at least not for now.

The 4,500-foot entrance is located south of State Route 120.  Crews finished putting up a portable sign that will display the toll costs and painted white lines at the new entrance Sunday afternoon.

GDOT added the additional access point after commuters complained there was a six-mile stretch south of Old Peachtree Road that did not allow them to get into the High Occupancy Toll Lanes.

Gwinnett Transit rerouted its buses onto Highway 316 after the HOT lanes opened last October.  The new route allowed the buses to access the southbound toll lane more easily.

However, the county's transit director said he is taking a "wait and see" approach now that the new access point is open.

"Safety is number one in any transit operation," said Phil Boyd.

Boyd's concern is that buses will have to cross several lanes of traffic quickly to enter the HOT lane from the new access point.

"It is a problem any time you're maneuvering that bus out there in a.m. traffic conditions so we need to take a close look at that," said Boyd.

Many drivers said they are anxious to see if the new entry will improve traffic flow along the interstate.

"It does sound like an easier way to get on and off," said Valerie Saari, who regularly uses the toll lanes.  "It would be another option for me."

But some are still skeptical any changes to the toll project will make a difference.

"It's quicker to drive all the way around I-285 and go up 20 west heading into the city than to go down 85," said Demarius Wiley-Hunt of Duluth.  "Like seriously, It's ridiculous."

Boyd said he is unsure how long the county will study the new access point before deciding whether to reroute buses.

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