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In addition to approving support for high speed rail, the Metro Board today approved ExpressLanes for portions of the 10 and 110 freeways as part of a one-year congestion reduction demonstration project funded by a federal grant. Because there's no space to build more freeways, Metro says this is a way to squeeze in more capacity. Under the plan, car pool lanes would turn into toll lanes of sorts. Those who carpool, take public transit or drive a motorcycle will not be affected, but solo drivers would be allowed into the lanes at a price--anywhere from a quarter to $1.40 a mile depending on the time of day and demand for usage.
The lanes are expected to open in December 2010 and will be found on the 10 and 110 east and south of downtown, respectively. Critics of the plan say this idea makes no sense. "Congestion pricing should reduce the demand for car travel," LA Streetsblogger Damien Newton said last month about a draft version of the plan. "There is nothing in the congestion pricing plan that encourages people to drive less."
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Fine, but of course this means we'll have to stop calling them "freeways."
I'm pretty sure "freeway" doesn't mean what you think it means.
I've been in the carpool lane of the 405 during rush hour, and let me tell you, it sometimes doesn't matter. Which makes me think that allowing more drivers into it will turn it into a regular lane. I mean, isn't the point of a carpool lane to CARPOOL, reducing the number of cars on the road and, in theory, giving you special privileges? But in other ways, yeah, this is a good idea. Or it would be if the car pool lanes were ALWAYS free of congestion. Makes some money, at least. Helps with law enforcement as cops no longer have to pull people over for being in the carpool lane - they'll just get charged for it. However, if I paid for the carpool lane and ended up stuck in traffic anyway, I'd be pissed. Which is likely, now that anyone can drive there.
$1.40/mile?! Isn't that crazy expensive?
is this similar to what the 91 fwy? because i've been on that and i think it makes the 91 even more congested. ugh.
whos tracking how you pay per mile? dont understand that.
I assume electronic readers, similar to the EZPass system. It's really the only way. It's not like there's going to be a guy sitting there writing down your license plate number... They'll have a reader every mile or whatever that will scan your plate number.
I think if you charge to let solo drivers use the diamond lane it defeats the whole purpose of the diamond lanes which is to encourage car pooling.
It's standard "California Myopia" pseudo-logic.
Since people are too stubborn and lazy to actually *change* their unsustainable ways, they come up with a nonsensical plan where *everyone* loses again.
Next some civic genius will say, to boost revenues, we'll allow standard drivers to pay a little extra for handicapped parking placards - I mean the disabled weren't *paying* for those premium spots, now were they.
Didn't someone suggest charging for yearly use to help offset carbon waste and to improve transportation?