Rates to Rise on O.C. Toll Roads

Operators of Orange County’s public toll roads plan to hike fares next year for cash-paying motorists and for those who travel the financially ailing San Joaquin Hills toll road during rush hours.

The Transportation Corridor Agencies estimate that the increases will create an additional $4.6 million in revenue by 2003--funds that will help pay back $3.5 billion in bonds sold to finance the construction of 51 miles of tollway in eastern and western Orange County.

“This is a shift in our toll-pricing policy and it’s one that we believe is fairer to our customers,” said Walter D. Kreutzen, the TCA’s chief executive officer. “The strategy will increase revenue and it will reduce congestion on the roads during peak hours for our loyal customers.”

The agencies, which are two joint-powers authorities, operate the Eastern, Foothill and San Joaquin Hills toll roads, plus a short stretch of Laguna Canyon Road. Since the turnpikes opened, motorists have been charged the same rates, regardless of the time of day, whether they paid cash or used windshield-mounted transponders.

Under the proposal, fares at the main toll plaza of the San Joaquin Hills toll road would increase by 50 cents for cash payers and 25 cents for TCA FasTrak customers Monday through Friday from 7 to 9 a.m. in the northbound lanes and 4 to 7 p.m. in the southbound lanes. The transponders that FasTrak customers use electronically bill their accounts.

There will be no toll increase for FasTrak users traveling the San Joaquin Hills tollway during nonpeak hours, whereas those who pay cash will be hit with a 50-cent rate hike at the road’s main toll plaza.

Overall, the plan will increase the maximum toll to $2.75 for FasTrak customers during peak hours and $3 for cash-paying motorists no matter what time of day they travel.

On the Eastern and Foothill toll roads, rates will remain the same for FasTrak customers, but there will be an increase of 25 cents for cash-paying motorists at the main toll plazas.

Motorists who have FasTrak accounts from other turnpikes, such as the 91 Express Lanes or the Interstate 15 toll lanes in San Diego County, will experience the same rate hikes as cash-paying motorists if they use the TCA’s toll roads.

The boards of directors for the Foothill/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills corridor agencies are scheduled to consider the proposed increases Dec. 13. If approved, they will go in effect early next year.

TCA officials expect the rate hikes to improve the economic performance of the San Joaquin Hills toll road, which suffered a financial setback last year when its bonds were downgraded due to lower than expected revenue.

In an October credit rating, Standard and Poor’s, a major bond rating agency, concluded that the financial outlook remains negative for the road because revenue and traffic levels have continued to slide.

Analysts warn that the road’s debt service is scheduled to increase in the years ahead and the current economic downturn could slow the growth of traffic and revenue. On the positive side, they said the toll road has a federal line of credit, a partially funded reserve and the ability to raise tolls.

“Revenue has been a challenge on the 73,” said Clare Climaco, a TCA spokeswoman. “It is the road that needs to be watched closely. We hope the toll increase will improve” the situation.

TCA officials say they also need to raise rates for cash-paying motorists to recoup the additional cost of staffing and equipping toll plazas throughout the system. Cash-paying motorists cost as much as 30 cents more per transaction than FasTrak customers.