Yes an express toll lane like others have said - but it’s also (likely) a contraflow lane as well: in the morning traffic flows into the city, in the afternoon it flows out.
Exactly. A fee is paid for the illusion of expeditious transit as you will encounter someone going slower than the “free” transit lanes far more frequently than desired. It’s fun to look next to you in those situations as you feel the justified contempt of passersby zipping along on their journey.
What is that middle lane for?
Yes an express toll lane like others have said - but it’s also (likely) a contraflow lane as well: in the morning traffic flows into the city, in the afternoon it flows out.
It’s for all those drivers that enjoy getting stuck behind that one idiot doing half the speed limit for no reason.
Or it might be a lane for tidal traffic: one way during the morning rush hour and the other way in the evening.
Probably an express lane that allows through traffic to not need to deal with on-ramp/off-ramp congestion
Exactly. A fee is paid for the illusion of expeditious transit as you will encounter someone going slower than the “free” transit lanes far more frequently than desired. It’s fun to look next to you in those situations as you feel the justified contempt of passersby zipping along on their journey.
Also driving.