Simplifying HOV Lane Access

A tap-and-go experience that reduced mis-declarations and sped up toll verification.

Role

Lead Designer

Team

1 PM, 1 Researcher, 2 Engineers

Scope

Mobile App, Transportation

Timeline

11 months · May 2021 - Mar 2022

Smartphone mounted on car dashboard showing HOV app granting toll-free access during trip.
Smartphone mounted on car dashboard showing HOV app granting toll-free access during trip.
Smartphone mounted on car dashboard showing HOV app granting toll-free access during trip.

why it started

Goal.

Design an HOV verification experience that agencies could trust and drivers would actually adopt — accurate enough to eliminate fraud, fast enough to replace a toll tag.

how it ended

Result.

From proof-of-concept to production: $375k pilot, MTC partnership, and the design foundation behind RideFlag's multi-year agency contracts.

Highway express lane sign showing toll price and “FasTrak required” message above busy traffic on I-680 Express Lanes in the Bay Area..
Highway express lane sign showing toll price and “FasTrak required” message above busy traffic on I-680 Express Lanes in the Bay Area..
Highway express lane sign showing toll price and “FasTrak required” message above busy traffic on I-680 Express Lanes in the Bay Area..

Overview

The honor system problem

Self-declaration HOV systems had a fatal flaw: they trusted drivers to tell the truth.

Flip a transponder switch to "3+ passengers." Drive alone. Repeat daily. Agencies lost millions in revenue. Carpoolers watched solo drivers speed past in lanes meant for them.

RideFlag set out to prove that smartphone-based Vehicle Occupancy Detection could replace expensive roadside cameras — verification accurate enough for agencies, fast enough for rush hour.

As the sole designer from MVP to Beta, I shaped the Express Lanes app across pilots in Utah, the Bay Area, and Florida.

Self-declaration HOV systems had a fatal flaw: they trusted drivers to tell the truth.

Flip a transponder switch to "3+ passengers." Drive alone. Repeat daily. Agencies lost millions in revenue. Carpoolers watched solo drivers speed past in lanes meant for them.

RideFlag set out to prove that smartphone-based Vehicle Occupancy Detection could replace expensive roadside cameras — verification accurate enough for agencies, fast enough for rush hour.

As the sole designer from MVP to Beta, I shaped the Express Lanes app across pilots in Utah, the Bay Area, and Florida.

Self-declaration HOV systems had a fatal flaw: they trusted drivers to tell the truth.

Flip a transponder switch to "3+ passengers." Drive alone. Repeat daily. Agencies lost millions in revenue. Carpoolers watched solo drivers speed past in lanes meant for them.

RideFlag set out to prove that smartphone-based Vehicle Occupancy Detection could replace expensive roadside cameras — verification accurate enough for agencies, fast enough for rush hour.

As the sole designer from MVP to Beta, I shaped the Express Lanes app across pilots in Utah, the Bay Area, and Florida.

FasTrak Flex electronic toll tag with switch settings for 1, 2, or 3+ passengers.
FasTrak Flex electronic toll tag with switch settings for 1, 2, or 3+ passengers.

Traditional toll tag used for HOV validation

challenge

Two Audiences, Opposite Demands

Verification must be strict, but the commute must stay frictionless. Since drivers can’t glance at phones on the road, the app couldn’t demand attention. Trust had to be earned in the moments when they could safely engage.

Agencies wanted:

Proof that passengers were real. Confidence that the system couldn't be gamed.

Drivers needed:

Speed. Anything slower than a transponder tap would fail. Privacy assurance for a camera in their car.

Designing for drivers

I structured the solution around three principles, each shaping clear design decisions.

Design for Trust

The experience needed to be quick, transparent, and secure. Setup took seconds with a license plate scan, while subtle camera hints guided the one-step verification. At trip end, success messages confirmed eligibility and reassured users that images were deleted — building confidence that the app was reliable and privacy-first.

A simple validation flow for the RideFlag App shwoing licence plate scan setup, one-step carpooler verification via phone camera, and HOV benefit confirmation.
A simple validation flow for the RideFlag App shwoing licence plate scan setup, one-step carpooler verification via phone camera, and HOV benefit confirmation.
A simple validation flow for the RideFlag App shwoing licence plate scan setup, one-step carpooler verification via phone camera, and HOV benefit confirmation.

Simple Validation Flow

Design for Safety

To keep drivers focused, the app only communicates before a trip, at reward points, or at trip end — never in motion. Education was front-loaded while stopped, and in-trip messages appeared briefly and cleared automatically, so drivers never needed to touch their phone during the trip.

Timeline diagram of app interactions before, during, and after trips, showing communication points for HOV verification.
Timeline diagram of app interactions before, during, and after trips, showing communication points for HOV verification.
Timeline diagram of app interactions before, during, and after trips, showing communication points for HOV verification.

User Communication Diagram

Design for Familiarity

Anything unfamiliar on the road risks slowing drivers down, so I mimicked highway signage for clarity. The home screen featured one oversized verify button, minimal elements, and clear feedback — making the app feel as effortless as reading a road sign.

Side-by-side comparison of current vs proposed app design, highlighting clearer HOV verification and trip status indicators.
Side-by-side comparison of current vs proposed app design, highlighting clearer HOV verification and trip status indicators.
Side-by-side comparison of current vs proposed app design, highlighting clearer HOV verification and trip status indicators.

Element redesign to mimic real highway signage

What we shipped

The Express Lanes app turned a technical proof-of-concept into a deployed solution, winning trust from major transportation agencies:

  • Secured a $375k Utah pilot on I-15 Express Lanes

  • Advanced to a Bay Area Beta with MTC

  • Helped secure $9.1M in SDTC funding for sustainable mobility

My work laid the foundation that later positioned Rideflag to win multi-year contract with major transportation agencies such as Georgia's SRTA, Colorado's CTIO, and FDOT in Florida.

US project map highlighting states with active or pending RideFlag and HOV verification implementations, including California, Utah, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado.
US project map highlighting states with active or pending RideFlag and HOV verification implementations, including California, Utah, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado.
US project map highlighting states with active or pending RideFlag and HOV verification implementations, including California, Utah, Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, and Colorado.

Rideflag deployments and pilots by 2022

See next

Aioli: Reimagining Airline Back Office.

See next

Aioli: Reimagining Airline Back Office.

See next

Aioli: Reimagining Airline Back Office.