Metro's second foray into toll lanes begins at 12:01 tonight as it converts 14 miles of carpool lanes on the 10 into ExpressLanes, aka high-occupancy toll (HOT!) lanes. That means solo drivers can use those lanes, but they'll have to pay a toll. We learned all the basics when the first ExpressLanes opened on the 110 last fall--anyone who wants to use the lanes will need a FasTrak transponder that can be set to reflect the number of people in the car so that the system charges (or doesn't) accordingly. (We also learned that there's enforcement--CHP gave tons of tickets to abusers in the first months of the 110 program.) But there will be a few differences in the new set of lanes, which will stretch 14 miles between the 605 in El Monte and Alameda Street in Downtown. Metro's The Source has helpfully explained:
-- Cars will have to have a total of three or more people to travel toll free during rush hours (Monday through Friday, 5 am to 9 am and 4 pm to 7 pm). The 110 only requires two.
-- Cars with only two people will have to pay a toll during rush hours.
-- Cars with two people will not be charged a toll outside of rush hour.
-- "The average toll will likely be different due to the differences in length and space available to toll payers." Average tolls will probably be about $4 to $7 one-way, according to the LA Times.
-- The 10 will have a second ExpressLane for nine miles, between the 605 and the 710.
-- There will be four entrance points on the westbound 10 and three entrance points on the eastbound 10.
As with the 110 lanes, the idea is to keep traffic moving in both carpool and non-carpool lanes, so the ExpressLanes will close to solo drivers if speed fall below 45 miles per hour.
· Countdown to I-10 Metro ExpressLanes: understanding the differences between the 10 and the 110 ExpressLanes [The Source]
· Everything You Need to Know About New 110 and 10 Toll Lanes [Curbed LA]
Loading comments...