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More Toll Lanes Are Coming To Los Angeles County Next Month
10 Freeway to San Bernardino (Photo by Dr EG via the Creative Commons on Flickr)
Metro is planning to open its second set of ExpressLanes that will stretch 14 miles across the western San Gabriel Valley.
The first set of toll lanes in the county opened up in November on the 110 Freeway. Everyone who rides in these new toll lanes—even people in carpools who ride free—are required to purchase Fastrak devices for their cars, but not everyone got the memo.
The rules for the new lanes set to open on Saturday, February 23 at the stroke of midnight will have similar rules, according to a release from Metro. Carpoolers and motorcycles ride for free. Solo drivers can ride in the lanes if they pay a fee that changes according to just how terrible traffic is. It could be a quarter per mile or as much as $1.40 per mile. If the toll lane gets too sluggish, solo drivers won't be able to ride in the lanes at all.
The new ExpressLanes on the San Bernardino Freeway will start in El Monte and will continue 14 miles to the 605 Freeway interchange. As with the lanes on the 110 Freeway, Metro members are hailing it as a way to improve traffic.
"When solo drivers begin to travel on the ExpressLanes along the San Bernardino Freeway, all commuters will benefit—whether they pay a toll or not—because the ExpressLanes will redistribute traffic across all lanes of the freeway," County Supervisor and Metro board member Mark Ridley-Thomas said, in a statement.
For more information about the lanes, we have some information from a post we did on the lanes on the 110 Freeway. But you can always visit Metro's ExpressLanes site or call 5-1-1 and say "Express Lanes." There are walk-in centers if you want to talk to a human being at 500 W. 190th Street in Gardena or at the El Monte Station on 3501 Santa Anita Avenue.
Related:
What You Need To Know About L.A.'s First Toll Lanes Opening This Weekend
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