The new HOV lane is expected to carry some 3,000 cars per day during peak commute time, about 10 percent of the total cars on that stretch of road.
"This is such an important corridor for both moving people and moving goods. The more efficient we can make it through initiatives like the carpool lanes, the better the commute will be for everybody and the less time they will have to spend in their cars," said Amy Rein Worth, vice chair of the MTC.
This part of the HOV extension project on northbound I-80 cost $36 million and was paid for entirely by a dollar increase in the tolls of Bay Area bridges.
