Prior to the I-405 Improvement Project, the carpool lanes regularly failed to provide a faster commute than the regular lanes. The carpool lanes were degraded to the point that they often moved just as slow or sometimes slower than the regular lanes. The entire I-405 Improvement Project and the adopted toll policy allow congestion to be managed in both the near-term and long-term based on expected growth in demand. Degraded carpool lanes are an issue throughout Orange County and more information on this topic can be found in a study that Caltrans conducted, called the HOV Degradation Report