Changes in the Washington state Senate have boosted the prospects for high-occupancy toll lanes, or HOT lanes, on Seattle-area freeways.

This past year, the Democrat-controlled House passed a bill allowing the state Transportation Department to open up the high-occupancy vehicle lanes, or HOV lanes, on state Highway 167 from Renton to Auburn to drivers willing to pay a toll. But the bill died in the Republican-run Senate.

Senate Transportation Chairman Jim Horn, R-Mercer Island, refused to let the bill out of his committee. He maintained that HOT lanes diverted attention from the need to increase highway capacity.

Democrats took control of the Senate in last week’s election, and Horn apparently lost his bid for re-election.

With the shift in power at the Capitol, Transportation Secretary Doug MacDonald said his agency plans to again push for legislative authorization for the four-year pilot project in the legislative session that begins in January. House Transportation Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said he would, too.

This past week, the state received a $1.2 million federal grant to begin taking a hard look at converting the nine-mile stretch between Renton and Auburn to HOT lanes. The project’s cost is estimated at $14 million.

The toll amount for solo drivers would depend on congestion levels. Current HOV users would continue to have free access to the lanes.

The project on 167 would be the first for the state. Similar high-occupancy toll lanes already are operating in Texas and California, while Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota and others are considering proposals.