91 Express Lanes Likely to Raise Tolls

Users of the 91 Express Lanes on the Riverside Freeway can expect toll increases of up to $1 one-way during peak travel times, under a rate policy recommended Friday by a panel of elected officials from Riverside and Orange counties.

Members of the 91 Express Lanes Advisory Committee voted 8 to 1 to adopt a congestion-based formula, which, at present traffic levels, could trigger a 75-cent toll increase as soon as August for eastbound travel between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays. Corona City Councilman Jeff Miller, who has long opposed toll increases for the lanes, cast the dissenting vote.

Officials say a formal rate policy is needed to clear the way for a $200-million refinancing of the tollway set for October, to help pay for planned improvements to the Riverside Freeway, and to keep the high-speed Express Lanes from becoming clogged, defeating their purpose.

The change for the evening rush-hour would push the maximum one-way toll to $5.50, among the most expensive tolls in the nation. Fees now range from $1 to $4.75 each way depending on the time of day. Carpools with three or more people travel free, except during the evening rush hour when they pay half the toll.

The new toll formula must be approved by the Orange County Transportation Authority, which purchased the 91 Express Lanes from a private company in January for $207 million. OCTA board members are scheduled to vote Monday on the recommended policy.

The 91 Express Lanes run for 10 miles down the median of the Riverside Freeway, from northern Anaheim to the Riverside County line. OCTA’s purchase of the four-lane tollway canceled a 30-year agreement between Caltrans and the former owner that restricted widening of the freeway, one of the most congested in Southern California.

“We lost 10 years of construction momentum because of the Express Lanes. Nothing could be done,” said OCTA board chairman Tim Keenan, who is on the advisory committee. “We need to get over that frustration and move ahead. It is going to be hard to keep up with the growth.”

A similar rate policy is in effect for a tollway along Interstate 15 in San Diego County. Called “dynamic pricing,” tolls are raised and lowered hourly throughout the day, based on traffic flow. The number of vehicles is assessed every six minutes using sensors in the pavement.

Some motorists who regularly travel the 91 Express Lanes agreed that a rate policy was needed for the tollway, but they were opposed to raising tolls so soon after OCTA’s acquisition.

“All we see are tolls going up and traffic going up,” said John Donaldson, a 23-year Corona resident who addressed the advisory committee. “This benefits OCTA, Wall Street and bondholders, but it doesn’t benefit the commuter.... As an average person, I might look for someone to blame.”

The recommended policy is based on demand and tollway capacity, which is 3,400 vehicles per hour, one way. As volume approaches that level, speeds begin to slow or become erratic, traffic consultants say.

When the number of vehicles is 3,200 to 3,299 per hour, one way, the policy would activate a 75-cent toll increase for those hours. Eastbound traffic between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays is already at that level.

If the number reaches 3,300 per hour or more, the toll would increase $1. Westbound volumes and other eastbound traffic are well below the thresholds.

The policy calls for traffic flow to be evaluated every 12 weeks. If volume falls below the trigger points, hourly tolls will be reduced. Tolls also would be lowered if traffic volumes at peak hours fall below 2,750 vehicles per hour, one way. Finally, tolls not raised due to demand will be adjusted for inflation starting in July 2004.