Madrid will introduce a new Bus-HOV lane on the A-2 corridor in early 2026, initially operating between Madrid and Torrejón de Ardoz before later extending toward Alcalá de Henares.
A Bus-HOV lane (Bus–High Occupancy Vehicle) is a dedicated road lane reserved during peak hours for public transport, emergency vehicles, motorcycles, and cars with two or more occupants. It aims to reduce congestion and prioritise higher-capacity, lower-emission travel. Outside peak times, the lane reverts to general traffic use.
The new A-2 lane uses technology rather than physical separation: roadside beacons and gantries will signal when restrictions apply. Automated licence-plate and occupancy detection will enforce compliance.
This €13.9 million investment is expected to cut travel times by around 25% for 15,000 daily users, supporting a shift towards shared and public transport on one of Madrid’s most congested corridors. Around 85% of cars entering Madrid currently carry only one passenger, despite buses moving more people with far fewer vehicles.
The Bus-HOV lane will run in trial mode for several weeks before full operation to help users adjust their travel patterns.
Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.
Author: Amy Nicholson
Sources
Details
- Publication date
- 4 December 2025
- Topic
- Collective passenger transport
- Urban mobility planning
- Country
- Spain