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