Join Experts at metro.net to Discuss Expresslanes, Tolls and Other Congestion Reduction Strategies
- Live Chat Tuesday, July 7
As L.A. County embarks on ExpressLanes -- a one-year demonstration project to convert existing carpool lanes into toll lanes -- Metro is asking the public to weigh in on key elements of the project, such as variable toll rates designed to ensure a minimum speed of 45 m.p.h. in the ExpressLanes. Commuters are invited to share their questions and opinions during Metro's next live internet chat, noon to 1 p.m., Tuesday, July 7 at metro.net.
Share your ideas with Stephanie Wiggins, Metro Executive Officer for the ExpressLanes Demo Project. The topic: ExpressLanes are coming soon. How do they work? How much will they cost?
ExpressLanes is a one-year demonstration project/test, during which high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) carpool lanes will be converted to high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes. General purpose lanes will remain toll-free. It will begin in December, 2010 in two places: on the I-10 El Monte Busway, between Alameda Street and the I-605, and on the 1-110 Harbor Transitway, between Adams Boulevard and Artesia Transit Center.
The goal of the ExpressLanes project is to ease congestion by squeezing more capacity out of the region’s roadways by moving more people, not more cars. Carpools, vanpools and mass transit will remain toll-free. But single occupant vehicles will have the option of using the ExpressLanes by paying a toll. Funds collected from the tolls must be expended in the corridor where they are generated and will be used for more transit and carpool lane improvements.
Congestion pricing works by shifting some rush hour highway traffic to other transportation modes or to off-peak periods by charging for use of some roads at certain times of day. It has worked successfully in London, Stockholm, Singapore, Minneapolis, San Diego and Orange County.
The July 7 live chat is Metro's latest attempt to communicate with the public about the ExpressLanes project. Metro has already held six public hearings and numerous community meetings on the topic.
For more information on ExpressLanes, go to metro.net/expresslanes. To post live questions during the chat or e-mail advance questions, go to metro.net/chat.