Tolls on the 91 Express Lanes Rise

Two toll increases for the popular 91 Express Lanes -- already one of the most expensive toll roads in the nation -- will increase the cost of a round trip at peak times to almost $12.

Starting next week, the toll for an eastbound trip will increase from $7 to $7.75, between 4 and 6 p.m. on Thursdays and between 4 and 5 p.m. on Fridays. The toll will rise from $6.25 to $7 for eastbound trips between 5 and 6 p.m. on Wednesdays. More traffic is moving in the lanes at those times compared to any other.

Officials for the Orange County Transportation Authority, which owns the tollway, plan to raise the remainder of the tolls 4.2% on July 1 because of inflation.

After both increases, motorists commuting to Orange County from the Inland Empire during the morning and evening rush hours on Thursdays and Fridays could pay up to $11.55 and $11.65, respectively, for a round trip.

When the Express Lanes opened 10 years ago, the maximum toll was $2.50 one way.

The 91 Express Lanes are in the middle of the Riverside Freeway, one of the most congested highways in Southern California. They run 10 miles from the Costa Mesa Freeway to the Riverside County line.

Some commuters say they are disappointed by the latest round of increases because congestion has been steadily increasing in the lanes, occasionally slowing traffic to a crawl.

“It keeps getting crowded, and you sit there with others who have paid $7 or $8. Why not just light your money on fire and throw it out the car window?” said Mary Monise of Corona, who regularly commutes to central Orange County with her husband.

Last week, Corona City Councilman Jeff Miller said he paid a $7 toll and the free lanes were moving faster than the Express Lanes.

“Its frustrating,” said Miller, who sits on the Riverside County Transportation Commission. “I am concerned about how much money is coming out of people’s pocketbooks to travel the Express Lanes.”

OCTA officials say they want to manage the tollway in a way that maximizes its use while preserving the highway speeds that make it attractive to motorists. The toll increases, they say, should help reduce congestion in the lanes.

OCTA figures show that motorists now make about 39,000 trips a day on the Express Lanes, the vast majority during the morning and evening rush hours. Traffic has increased about 12% since last year.

“We need to make sure the road is run in a financially responsible manner to pay off our bonds, but we also want to ensure that our customers have a smooth and safe commute,” said Ted Nguyen, an OCTA spokesman.

John Standiford, a spokesman for the Riverside County Transportation Commission, said the latest toll increases illustrate the need to make rapid improvements to the Riverside Freeway.