91 Express Lanes: the Road Ahead

* Re “Caltrans Had No Choice but Make Deal With 91 Express Lane Firm,” April 23 Orange County Voices column by Robert W. Pool Jr.:

The idea of privately funded roadways appeals to me. But on close examination it makes for a bad situation along the Riverside Freeway.

Poole’s explanation in favor of the non-competition agreement between Caltrans and the 91 Express Lane owners is quite understandable. Nevertheless, it is not necessarily in the best interest of the public.

The agreement prohibits Caltrans from capacity improvements until the freeway traffic surpasses about 370,000 vehicles per day. This number is so large that the freeway would be completely congested more than 20 hours per day. It would be completely choked before this volume could really be achieved. In other words, Caltrans agreed to a condition that is not achievable and has committed us to deplorable future congestion.

The private express lane is actually a government-sponsored monopoly: No other roads can be built by anyone in the area. The express lanes were built on the only publicly owned right of way. There is no room for other competition. This is not my idea of free enterprise.

At the time, lack of funds may have made the enterprise look like a good idea; that is no longer the case. Measure M money could have been used; Measure M funds will show a surplus at the end of its life that still could be used for this purpose.

One financial arrangement would be to partially offset the cost of the tollway with public funds so it could be operated at free-flow capacity conditions while still paying off the debt.

Free-flow capacity would still be regulated by tolls, but lowered so that the express lanes are running more efficiently.

DAVE MOOTCHNIK

Huntington Beach