HUMMERS IN THE CARPOOL LANE

MTA Approves Toll Rates for Single Occupant Carpool Lanes

Not too long ago, one had to shell out twenty big ones in order to use the California carpool lanes without a carpool. $20,000 (or a tad more) got you a Honda Civic Hybrid, Honda Insight or Toyota Prius - the only vehicles to qualify for single-occupancy access into the carpool lanes under California's hybrid exception law. It was a steep price to pay, and it got some thinking that it's more cost effective to take your chances with a traffic citation, which costs $348 the first time around.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Board of Directors just made it even cheaper this month - approving toll rates to be used on portions of the I-10/I-110 ExpressLanes. It followed a series of public hearings that gathered public input on the tolling pricing proposal to be implemented as part of the agency’s Congestion Reduction Demonstration Project (ExpressLanes) that will debut late next year.

The new adopted toll rates will range from 25 cents to $1.40 a mile for solo drivers using the ExpressLanes. Tolls will go into effect with the opening of the ExpressLanes in December 2010. Staff estimates that the average trip on the I-10 ExpressLanes will be nine miles with an average toll of $6 depending on demand and the average trip on the I-110 ExpressLanes is five miles for an average toll of $5.

The annual revenue estimated from the tolls is approximately $21 million with the net toll revenues being reinvested in the corridor where they are generated for transit and carpool lane improvements, according to the MTA's Marc Littman. "Adoption of the toll rates and toll policy will now move forward as part of the draft environmental document which is expected to be circulated this Fall."

In partnership with Caltrans, Metro is embarking on a one-year demonstration program that will convert existing carpool lanes on the I-10 (El Monte Busway) and the I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) freeways to high-occupancy toll lanes. Present day carpoolers, vanpoolers, motorcycles, and public transit users will not be charged a toll to use the lanes. Solo drivers, who currently are not allowed to use the lanes, will be allowed to use the ExpressLanes by paying a toll. No tolls will be charged in mixed-flow traffic lanes.

"The purpose of the demonstration is to squeeze more capacity out of crowded freeways in a region where building new freeways is almost impossible because land is not available and there is a lack of funding for new construction," says Rick Jager of the MTA "The project will provide the opportunity for individuals to choose better transportation alternatives and provides a choice for solo drivers to shift to more convenient express transit options that will serve the corridor route."

"The toll price will be variable depending on traffic flow, says Jager. "The goal is to ensure vehicles in the ExpressLanes travel at a minimum of 45 miles per hour. It will be cheaper to access the ExpressLanes during non-peak hours, or opt for public transit, carpools and vanpools and pay no tolls."

The MTA is also considering implementing an ExpressLanes Rewards Program to provide a toll credit or transit credit of $5 to frequent transit riders on the I-10 and I-110 ExpressLanes. To earn the $5 credit, transit riders would have to ride 16 round-trips during the peak period over a 30 day period. Transit riders would choose to apply the credit to their toll account or transit fare. The $5 credit would expire after 60 days. Frequent transit riders could earn up to $60 toll/transit credit over the one-year demonstration period.

Soon, you'll be able to take your Hummer in the carpool lane without a carpool. There, you can drive your baby alongside those annoying hybrids that have been able to enjoy this privilege exclusively all this time.

LA Car.com - The Cars and Culture of Southern California Magazine & Directory - BACK SEAT DRIVING - JULY 2009