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December 8, 2007
For Whom the Road Tolls
Late last week the MTA board announced plans to convert some of LA County's car-pool lanes on heavily traveled freeways to toll lanes. The Daily News reported that
Under the plan, solo drivers could use the car-pool lanes if they pay a toll. Vehicles with two or more occupants - which currently use the lanes for free - would also pay a toll, although less than solo drivers. It's unclear how the plan would apply to hybrids.The changes would occur in two phases, the first of which being on the I-10 (El Monte Busway), I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) and I-210 from the 605 to the 710, followed by conversion of the 60 Freeway (Pomona Freeway), and future car-pool lanes on the 10 east of the 605 and car-pool lanes on the 210 east of the 605. Right now the MTA has until the end of the month to file an application to a goverment program that assists cities in the conversion process from car-pool lanes to toll lanes.
Toll roads to the south of LA County in San Diego and Orange Counties are experienced mixed success. Last month the LA Times reported on the opening of the South Bay Expressway, a privately owned toll road which runs for about ten miles between the suburb of Bonita and the Otay Mesa border crossing, mentioning that in "Orange County, a toll road that connects Yorba Linda with Irvine, Route 241, is doing well. But another one between San Juan Capistrano and Newport Beach, Route 73, has struggled."
Currently there are no toll roads, public or private, operating in LA County. If the MTA's plans are approved, the lane conversions would take place by the summer of 2009.
What do you think? Should our car-pool lanes be turned into toll lanes?
Photo by tatianes via Flickr
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Sounds like a terrible idea.
The whole point of the diamond lane was to promote more efficient transportation, either via ZEV or carpooling. Making it a toll road will just doom the poor and casual drivers to more gridlock, and do nothing to improve congestion.
Where is the money supposed to go?
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this plan is actually a good idea, sometimes i see the carpool sitting near empty.
Yes, the point of carpool lanes is/was to encourage ride sharing, but it's not exactly working out as planned.
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Poor drivers?
I'm sorry, but if you can afford a car, you aren't poor. Just because most Angelenos think you can't live here without car doesn't mean it's true.
If we are worried about the poor, lets subsidize public transit more.
But it's a fair question to ask where the money is going.
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Metro says the money will go to improving roads and highways adjacent to the tollways.
This is such a gloriously good and long overdue development; I can only hope MTA implements it on the 405 as well. Oh, and if they did it to Wilshire, that would be great.
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It would be smarter if they just let anyone use the carpool lanes during off-peak hours, as they do in northern california.
but i guess MTA needs more money. But it won't be coming from my pocket.
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Actually, rdm24, I've been poor with a car before. Lots of people are, in fact. Owning a car can make you poor, or keep you poor, considering maintenance, registration, and insurance. But I do agree we need to focus on public transit as well as our freeways.
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rdm24 - Yeah, thinking about the financial impact of a toll on the lowest-earning members of our community, especially since they comprise the largest number of commuters, and those that drive the farthest, is silly.
Fuck'em if they can't afford it, I say.
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Keep it free for hybrids/carpoolers, let single passengers pay the toll. Having BOTH pay seems stupid.
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all freeway lanes should be toll lanes. next up: 100% gas tax.
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It's funny watching all the neocons bitch and moan about paying their fair share.
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I think I should re-phrase my position, because I come across as a jerk.
I just don't like the fact that we act as though car-ownership is a right, and we don't have a duty to make cars or freeways accessible to everyone. If people can't afford the toll roads (or car insurance, or gas prices), they should either figure out how to get around other ways, or adjust their budgets appropriately.
But we shouldn't subsidize car owners of any economic class.
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I've lived here for a while now, and I still don't relate to the obsession so many people have with driving in this city. It's so ironic because the weather is amazing here.
Anyways, I agree that people who carpool should not have to pay this toll. Rather than allow some individuals to use the carpool lanes if they can afford it, I would prefer the state focuses on encouraging carpooling more, and improving public transporation.
Sure, I have seen the carpool lane empty on some days. But what is even more disturbing is how many cars I see on the road that contain only one person.