New Year To Bring $10 Toll To Southern California Commuters

In 2008, eastbound drivers on the 91 Express Lanes between Orange and Riverside counties will see their toll rate jump to a buck a mile if they travel between 3 and 4 PM. "The $10 toll is among the highest in the nation and comes nine months after the boost to $9.25."

"In addition to the increase on Fridays, the eastbound toll during the same 3 to 4 p.m. hour will increase from $4.95 to $5.95 on Wednesdays and from $4.95 to $5.70 on Thursdays," said Joel Zlotnik, a spokesman for the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which owns and operates the express lanes.

"But frequent express-lane commuters are crying foul, saying that as the Inland Empire's population swells, more traffic is added to the daily commute, negating any positive effects from higher rates."

Eastbound drivers using the Expressway before 3 and after 4 will be charged at a lower rate in an attempt to get them to drive during less congested hours.

"The OCTA isn't the only agency in the state to use a sliding fee scale. Part of Interstate 15 in San Diego also uses a similar, but less expensive, pricing scheme...And earlier this month, the Metropolitan Transportation Agency proposed converting carpool lanes on three Los Angeles County freeways into toll lanes."

"The 91 Freeway is one of the most congested highways in Southern California. More than 320,000 vehicles use the freeway each day to commute between Orange and Riverside counties.

When OCTA purchased the express lanes, a ban prohibiting freeway improvements was eliminated. OCTA has plans to widen the lanes and is working with Riverside County, which wants to extend to the toll lanes into that county."