What about new proposed tollways for California?

[ACSCmapcollector]

I don't know any new or more plans for new proposed tollways for California?  Can someone elaborate or comment on this?

Scott C. Presnal
Morro Bay, CA

[jrouse]

There are 2 projects under development.

CA-156 between CA-1 and US-101
http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/mon_156w/index.htm

CA-11 in San Diego, which will link CA-905 and CA-125 with a new border crossing known as East Otay Mesa.  The first piece of CA-11 opened to traffic earlier this year.  It is not tolled. 
http://www.cahighways.org/009-016.html#011


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[jrouse]

I should add that there are going to be a number of new express lanes (HOT lanes) coming into operation in both northern and southern California in the next several years. 


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[djsekani]

In the Los Angeles area an extension to the HOT lanes for the 91 is currently under construction, and Metro has plans to extend the HOT lanes on the 110 and add new lanes on the 105. OCTA also has plans for HOT lanes on the 405. San Bernardino County is considering adding HOT lanes to the 10 and 15 freeways. (Edited to add links to project pages.)

I've always wondered if anyone would consider converting some of the existing freeways we have to tollways. The Santa Monica and Hollywood Freeways, for example. Both have plenty of alternate routes and both corridors are well served by bus, subway, and light rail.

[myosh_tino]

Like jrouse said, there are a number of HOT lanes planned or under construction in the S.F. Bay Area.  Here a few that are expected to open in the next 2-3 years...

I-680...
* San Ramon to Walnut Creek - conversion of existing HOV to HOT - Expected to open in 2017
* Milpitas to Route 84 (Northbound ONLY) - new construction - Expected to open in 2018 pending funding

I-880...
* San Leandro to Milpitas - conversion of existing HOV to HOT - Expected to open in 2019

The VTA (Valley Transportation Authority - Santa Clara County) had a grand plan to create a network of HOT lanes that crisscross the valley on routes 101, 85 and 237 but looking at the website today, I noticed these plans have changed.  The original plan was to convert the all HOV lanes on 85 and 101 to HOT lanes but the segments on US 101 between the 101/85 interchange in south San Jose and the 101/237 interchange in Sunnyvale and on Route 85 from the 85/87 interchange and 85/280 interchange are now being classified as a "future phase".

I'm not sure what the delay is on the US 101 segment but the Route 85 segment has been hit with lawsuits because the VTA wants an additional express lane in each direction between Route 87 and I-280.  The wide center median was meant to be reserved for a future light rail line and some city governments who signed off on the freeway back in the late 80's/early 90's aren't happy with the idea of adding a 4th lane instead of the promised light rail.  My problem with this project is the idea that 50% of a freeway's capacity are toll lanes.

[jrouse]

I've always wondered if anyone would consider converting some of the existing freeways we have to tollways. The Santa Monica and Hollywood Freeways, for example. Both have plenty of alternate routes and both corridors are well served by bus, subway, and light rail.

Federal and state laws would have to be changed for this to happen.  Federal law allows for limited conversion of non-rolled interstates to tolled interstates (up to 4 states could apply for the opportunity and California was not one of them).  Several sections of state law explicitly prohibit conversion of non-tolled lanes to tolled lanes.



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[jrouse]

I'm not sure what the delay is on the US 101 segment but the Route 85 segment has been hit with lawsuits because the VTA wants an additional express lane in each direction between Route 87 and I-280.  The wide center median was meant to be reserved for a future light rail line and some city governments who signed off on the freeway back in the late 80's/early 90's aren't happy with the idea of adding a 4th lane instead of the promised light rail.  My problem with this project is the idea that 50% of a freeway's capacity are toll lanes.

The reason for the phased approach on 101 is funding.  Nothing more.  It's all been environmentally cleared.



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[jfs1988]

OCTA is studying an extension of CA-57 (Orange Freeway) south of the Orange Crush Interchange (CA-57, CA-22, & I-5). The southern extension will connect central Orange County to the beach. The extension would be a toll-road & it would parallel the Santa Ana River.

They are also studying extending CA-241 (Eastern Corridor) to I-5 in San Clemente (Just near the OC/San Diego Co Line), but there is also a lot of opposition from San Onofre State Beach & Camp Pendleton Marines Corps Base.

& of course budget.

[andy3175]

They are also studying extending CA-241 (Eastern Corridor) to I-5 in San Clemente (Just near the OC/San Diego Co Line), but there is also a lot of opposition from San Onofre State Beach & Camp Pendleton Marines Corps Base.

The California Coastal Commission, as noted in the 241 thread, opposes this route and makes 241 fairly difficult if not impossible to build. The US Dept of Commerce also rejected the extension (see http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-tollroad-san-onofre-trestles-20140922-story.html). Although somewhat dated, our 241 webpage at https://www.aaroads.com/california/ca-241.html still has the key dates of rejecting the toll road.

You can also see more at http://voiceofoc.org/2014/07/are-toll-lanes-still-in-store-for-orange-county-freeways/ from July 2014:

With toll lanes facing strong local opposition, it remains to be seen if the state can get toll lanes added to Orange County's freeways.

Given the dwindling state and federal funds, any major freeway projects will likely rely heavily on Measure M2 money.

And the OCTA board, which so far has bowed to public pressure against toll lanes, controls those purse strings.

But a compromise on the issue isn't out of the question.

OCTA officials are adamant about building a partial extension of the State Route 241 toll road in South Orange County — a project that's been met so far with fierce resistance from state officials.

Will OCTA and Caltrans try to use toll lanes as a bargaining chip for a state blessing of the 241 extension?

It's too early to tell. But OCTA officials say that when it comes to cutting down traffic congestion in South County, there aren't any other viable options than the 241 extension.

"The alternatives that are available are very limited,"  said OCTA Director Pat Bates at this week's meeting.

Widening the I-5, she added, "could be very devastating to the communities, including some of the historical sites along the 5 currently, especially [in] the city of Mission Viejo."

Another option, widening La Pata Avenue, would require the removal of bike lanes sought by local communities, Bates said.

So far, state officials seem to be playing hardball when it comes to the toll lanes.

[ACSCmapcollector]

The recent changes to HOV lanes being converted to HOT lanes on the Los Angeles Freeway System is the I-110, Harbor Freeway, and the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway, any additional plans to convert HOV lanes to HOT lanes in that area?  Please comment.

I have to be really be honest about tollways, there are two types of tollways: A. Tollways/Turnpikes like the Massachuetts Turnpike and the Pennsyvania Turnpike, and B. HOV lanes being converted to HOT lanes, which means not "free" to use anymore.

So far I have seen no other plans for the Los Angeles area having more HOT lanes.

[myosh_tino]

B. HOV lanes being converted to HOT lanes, which means not "free" to use anymore.

You're partially correct.

HOT lanes on I-15 and CA-91 in SoCal operate 24/7 (not sure about the I-110 and I-10 express lanes) however, that is not the case in S.F. Bay Area.  The I-680 and I-580 HOT/Express lanes operate from 5 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri  but are available toll-free during the overnight hours and weekends.  The I-880/CA-237 HOT/Express lanes only operate during the commute hours (5-10 AM, 3-7 PM Mon-Fri) and are toll-free all other times.

[compdude787]

B. HOV lanes being converted to HOT lanes, which means not "free" to use anymore.

You're partially correct.

HOT lanes on I-15 and CA-91 in SoCal operate 24/7 (not sure about the I-110 and I-10 express lanes) however, that is not the case in S.F. Bay Area.  The I-680 and I-580 HOT/Express lanes operate from 5 AM to 8 PM Mon-Fri  but are available toll-free during the overnight hours and weekends.  The I-880/CA-237 HOT/Express lanes only operate during the commute hours (5-10 AM, 3-7 PM Mon-Fri) and are toll-free all other times.

Personally, I prefer toll lanes that are only tolled during peak hours. During non-peak hours, when traffic is moving at full speed in the non-tolled lanes, there is no reason for anyone to use the toll lanes.

[jrouse]

The regional transportation plan for Southern California calls for the conversion of almost all HOV lanes in the the region to HOT lanes.  As of right now the only HOT lanes under development in the region are on I-405 in Orange County, I-10 and I-15 in San Bernardino County, an extension of the 91 express lanes in Riverside County, and on I-15 in Riverside County.

In Northern California the regional transportation plan for the Bay Area includes conversion of most of the HOV lanes to HOT lanes, except for US-101 in Marin and Sonoma Counties.   There are also a number of new HOT lanes proposed which will extend or close gaps in the system. 

In San Diego, the existing HOV lanes on I-5 and I-805 will eventually be converted to HOT lanes.  Several new HOT lanes are also proposed on various freeways in the region. 


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