Mayor John Tory wants the province to reconsider its decision to limit the temporary HOV lanes for the Pan American Games to vehicles with three or more people.

Tory made the comment to reporters on Monday morning as police began enforcing the three or more person rule for the new lanes.

Ordinarily HOV lanes can be used by any vehicle with two or more people inside but during the Pan American Games the lanes will only be open to accredited games vehicles, public transit vehicles, taxis, emergency vehicles and vehicles with three or more people. The rules will then be changed to allow vehicles with two or more to use the lanes during the Parapan Am Games from July 28 to Aug. 18.

“I continue to believe that the province still could reconsider the three person limit for the use of the HOV lanes and I think that would cause the traffic to move a little bit better,” Tory said. “I don’t think there is really any evidence to suggest that change from two to three will make any positive difference to anybody, so I hope that after a few days they might reconsider that.”

The HOV lanes run along the Queen Elizabeth Way, the Gardiner Expressway, Lake Shore Boulevard, Jane Street south of Highway 407 and highways 401, 427 and 404 and will be in effect from 5 a.m. until 11 p.m. throughout the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games,

Speaking with CP24 while touring the new HOV lanes earlier in the day, Transportation Minister Steven Del Duca defended his government’s decision to limit the use of the lanes to vehicles with three people.

“We brought in experts who worked on both the London and Vancouver Olympics, we took a look at the numbers themselves and yes it was important to keep the region moving but we also wanted to make sure that our athletes and officials could actually get to the venues on time,” he said. “With three plus I think we have struck the right balance.”

Toronto and provincial police are expected to have a heavy presence along the HOV lanes over the next few days as they crack down on drivers who may be using them improperly.

The penalty for improperly using the lanes is $110 and three demerit points.

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