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110 Toll Lanes Fail To Help Commuters

Jillian Littleton |
March 24, 2015 | 5:57 p.m. PDT

Contributor

Fastrak or not, 110 commuters are still stuck in traffic. (blogs.kcrw.com)
Fastrak or not, 110 commuters are still stuck in traffic. (blogs.kcrw.com)
Pay-per-mile express lanes installed two years ago on Southern California’s 110 freeway seem to be exacerbating the very problem they aimed to fix. 

Lanes have slowed by 20 percent over the course of year, according to Metro officials. The tolls are nearing the cost cap, ranging from $0.25 to $1.40 per mile. 

The toll amount changes as often as every five minutes to adjust to the level of cars using the lane. This modification is in place to help discourage some drivers from using the toll lane. 

Hermosa Beach commuter Sebastian Grubaugh says the toll rate does play a role in whether or not he takes the 110. “I look at the 110 traffic on my map," he said. "If there is any traffic, I will look at the toll is and if it’s under two bucks, I will easily take that. If it’s over 2 dollars I will take a side street like Vermont.” 

The Metro Transportation Agency, which installed the tolls two years ago, is looking for ways to benefit travelers in the toll lanes without ostracizing commuters on a budget. 

READ MORE: Money-Making, Congestion-Reducing Express Lanes Spread On California Freeways

The MTA has recently restricted the toll lanes to carpool-only vehicles during the heavy morning traffic hours between 5 a.m. and 9 a.m. According to MTA officials, this will remove a third of drivers from the lanes. 

Some researchers, however, argue that the only way to lessen traffic on the toll roads is to raise the price of the toll itself. 

Bookings Institute economist Clifford Winston told the Los Angeles Times that if the prices went up, the traffic was sure to decrease. "There's no such thing as a price ceiling. If tolls went up to $10 per mile, I'm sure it would have an effect,” he said. Climbing tolls, though, would increasingly put low-income commuters at a disadvantage. 

READ MORE: Monthly Fee For Metro FasTrak Transponders On Chopping Block

Alyssa Nakamoto, who commutes from Torrance, said the tolls are only making things worse for all commuters. “Traffic has gotten a lot worse since they put the toll roads in there," she said. "Not as many people want to pay the fees and more cars are in the regaular lanes. Its been pretty backed up." 

MTA spokesperson Rick Jager assured drivers that increasing toll prices was not a part of the immediate plans to reduce traffic. “There is no real plan to raise the toll level past what it is already positioned at,” he said. 

MTA officials plan to wait until the fall of 2015 before deciding whether or not to increase the tolls. 

Reach contributor Jillian Littleton here



 

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