Highway 101 is a vital commute for tens of thousands of people traveling between Marin and Sonoma counties. But some drivers said recent changes to the carpool lane hours are making their commutes longer and more frustrating.

Katie Clayton, a hairstylist who drives from her Rohnert Park home to a salon in Novato, said the morning drive has become very stressful.

"It affected my commute by adding at least 30 minutes to my commute every morning," Clayton said. "It's frustrating, and people don't deserve to be sitting in traffic that was never there before. Don't fix what's not broken."

Earlier this month, on Sept. 8, Caltrans extended the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane hours on Highway 101 in the North Bay. The new schedule runs from 5 to 10 a.m. and 3 to 7 p.m. in Marin and Sonoma cou

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