In December, Orange County Transportation Authority board members opted not to support the toll lanes, instead favoring a plan that would add one free lane in each direction.Īlthough local opposition has been heated, some see high-occupancy toll lanes as the future in a region growing in population but strapped for funds. "The taxpayers of Orange County have been paying an additional sales tax to improve traffic, but Sacramento is usurping that," said Supervisor John Moorlach.Īs county transportation officials mulled over how best to expand the 405, six cities along the route, including Huntington Beach and Costa Mesa, banded together as the "corridor cities" to fight the lanes, saying they would put an unfair burden on commuters, push traffic onto local streets and prevent motorists in toll lanes from pulling off the highway to patronize local businesses.
The project also takes advantage of funds set aside to expand the freeway using money from the county's half-cent sales tax. One reason is that existing carpool lanes would be converted to toll lanes. "I think once voters realize what's coming down at them, they're going to rebel and people are going to want to keep the freeways free."ĭespite Orange County's history as a longtime proponent of toll lanes and roads, putting pay-to-drive lanes on the 405 has generated more than a year of rancorous debate. "The state of California and those in Sacramento are trying to implement a concerted agenda to have layers of taxes, fees and tolls to extract dollars out of everyday drivers," said Huntington Beach Mayor Matthew Harper. "I'd say there's going to be a lot of people celebrating this decision."īut there was little celebrating in Orange County - at least among many local officials. "We've got over 400,000 people using the 405 corridor every day," said Ryan Chamberlain, Orange County district director for Caltrans.
Riverside County is now in the process of creating express lanes on the 91 Freeway in Corona, while San Bernardino County officials are exploring the possibility of toll lanes on the 10 and 15 freeways as well.īut none of those areas have seen the strong opposition that Caltrans has encountered in Orange County, where numerous cities as well as the county's transportation agency have come out against the idea.Ĭaltrans officials said Friday that adding high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes on the 405 would speed traffic. The move comes as communities throughout Southern California are increasingly considering toll lanes in order to relieve traffic and generate funding.Īfter years of resistance, Los Angeles officials added toll lanes along parts of the 10 and 110 freeways. The cost of the tolls has not been finalized, but some existing toll lanes can charge about $10 one way during rush hour. The lanes would be on a notoriously congested section of the freeway between Seal Beach and Costa Mesa. The battle over toll lanes on California freeways moved to Orange County on Friday when Caltrans announced it would defy local officials and place what critics call "Lexus lanes" on a 14-mile stretch of the 405 Freeway.
0 kommentar(er)
