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Would You Pay $1.40/Mile to Use the Carpool Lane Solo?
Metro wants to test out their own brand of congestion pricing called ExpressLanes, which would allow solo drivers to access carpool lanes for a price. For one year, starting in December 2010, Metro will convert carpool lanes on the I-10 (El Monte Busway) and the I-110 (Harbor Freeway Transitway) freeways to toll lanes.
Those who travel via public transit or carpool would not have to pay, but solo drivers could end up paying as little as $0.25 or as much as $1.40 per mile to access the lanes, depending on the time of day and traffic flow. Revenues would then go back to the project's operation budget and into funds for improving public transit along the same corridors.
"The purpose," explains Metro in a press release, "of the demonstration is to squeeze more capacity out of crowded freeways in a region where building new freeways is almost impossible because land is not available and there is a lack of funding for new construction."
Chime in: You can opine here in LAist's comment section and also on the record at a series of upcoming public meetings:
Saturday, June 13, 2009
10 a.m. - Noon
Metro Board Room 3rd Fl.
One Gateway Plaza
Los Angeles
Monday, June 15, 2009
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Carson Community Center
Adult Activity Room
801 E. Carson St.
Carson
Sponsored message
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Metro San Gabriel Valley Service Sector
Council Chambers
3449 Santa Anita Ave. 3rd Fl.
El Monte
Saturday, June 20, 2009
10 a.m. - Noon
West Covina Civic Center
Community Room
1444 W. Garvey Ave.
West Covina
Monday, June 22, 2009
6 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Civic Center Library
Meeting Room
3301 Torrance Blvd.
Torrance
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
