Chattanooga potential location for TDOT Choice Lanes

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) announced their potential plans to bring Choice Lanes to Chattanooga and other major Tennessee cities.

Choice Lanes are additional lanes that bypass congested interstate traffic.

Drivers must pay to access these lanes.

TDOT explains, “Choice Lanes are new lanes and typically operate at around 55 mph during rush hours when traditional lanes are barely moving or even at a standstill during peak periods.”

They are different from toll roads, TDOT said. In toll roads, drivers must pay a fee to access any lane.

TDOT said their studies indicate Choice Lanes would be successful in these areas: Chattanooga, Nashville and Knoxville.

TDOT says these are the benefits of Choice Lanes:

• Provides more balance to quality of life due to less time spent in traffic.
• Offers enhanced transit options as transit buses can use the lanes to also benefit from the reliable travel speed and travel time.
• Impacts regional economic prosperity positively.
• Improves air quality due to less idling as a result of reduced traffic congestion.
• Generates revenue from the customers of the lanes that can be used to offset the costs of the lanes.