The free ride has ended.
A state initiative that permitted electric and hybrid vehicle drivers to cruise solo in the HOV lanes of the Long Island Expressway is officially over, leaving EV drivers without their previous advantage.
The federally mandated Clean Pass program expired on Wednesday, meaning that over 55,000 commuters in the metro area can no longer access the high-occupancy lanes during peak hours.
“This is frustrating,” said Central Islip commuter and healthcare professional Beverly Gandarillas in an interview with The Post. “It’s going to trigger a chain reaction. I’ll have to wake up earlier to leave earlier just to arrive at work on time, and if there’s an accident, forget it.”
Initiated in 2006, Clean Pass aimed to promote the use of fuel-efficient and electric vehicles by allowing them to bypass HOV regulations requiring multiple occupants—granting EV drivers relief from the notorious LIE rush hour congestion.
However, President Trump revoked federal authorization for the program, amid a broader initiative to dismantle clean energy programs across 15 states.
This change has sparked outrage among commuters stretching from Queens and Brooklyn to the Hamptons, with traffic experts predicting significant consequences for road congestion.
<p“Traffic will undoubtedly worsen,” stated AAA spokesman Robert Sinclair Jr. “We’ve analyzed the figures—approximately 55,000 vehicles in Long Island were eligible, so consider that volume of vehicles now unable to access dedicated lanes and merging back into regular traffic.”
According to US Census data, carpooling rates on Long Island have already been sliding since the establishment of HOV lanes in the 1990s, decreasing from around 12% of commuters then to 11% today.
Governor Kathy Hochul expressed dissatisfaction with the decision to halt the program.
“Regrettably, the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress have made Long Island drivers the latest casualties in their ongoing effort to worsen our air quality and increase our traffic issues,” a spokesperson for the governor’s office stated.
Solo drivers found in the HOV lane—regardless of their vehicles’ efficiency—will now incur fines starting at $150 along with two points on their driver’s licenses, similar to other motorists.
