Two new express lanes in each direction of the 91 Freeway in Corona dubbed the Corona Crawl opened for traffic on March 20. The lanes connect to the 91 Express Lanes in Orange County, providing 18 miles for carpoolers or those willing to pay a toll.
The 91 Express Lanes, the nation's oldest High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, also considered a toll road as they were built in the median of State Route (SR)-91 in Orange County by the California Private Transportation Company with no public funds, opening in 1995, are now the newest as well, thanks to the opening of an 8-mile stretch in Riverside County.
A major difference from the one-year-old I-580 Express Lanes in the Bay Area regard those in carpools. As the above video shows, three-person or more carpoolers need to drive in the designated lane to get the discount. Yes, a half-price toll is applied in the eastbound direction from 4-6 p.m. while they drive free at other times.
In the Bay Area, where express lanes are still considered somewhat new, two people compose a carpool, and travel is always free, though on the I-580 lanes, a newer type of Fastrak transponder is needed otherwise the licence plate is photographed, and a toll is charged. The 91 Express Lanes don't allow for license plate tolling.
So what do you get for $1.4 billion? A widened freeway plus many other capacity-increasing improvements, according to the project website:
[T]he [Riverside County Transportation Commission] 91 Corridor Improvement Project added regular lanes, tolled express lanes, auxiliary lanes and direct express lane connectors from the northbound I-15 to the westbound SR-91 and from the eastbound SR-91 to the southbound I-15. Improvements to interchanges, ramps and surface streets were also made along the 91 corridor.
"With nearly 300,000 people who travel the stretch each day, it's not going to make traffic disappear, but the hope is that it's alleviated," reports Christina Salvo for ABC7 Eyewitness News.
Hat tip to Bernie Wagenblast of AASHTO Daily Transportation Update.
Read the full story: New, long-awaited express toll lanes open up on 91 Freeway in Corona
Converting a Carpool Lane to a High Occupancy Toll Lane No Easy Task
Supervisors of California's fourth-largest county declared their formal opposition to the conversion of carpool lanes on the Riverside Freeway to high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, but they are open to toll lanes, under the right conditions.
More Toll Lanes Coming to California Freeways
Solo drivers in the Golden State will have more options to escape traffic congestion on busy freeways – for a price, as transportation agencies increasing decide to convert existing carpool lanes to high-occupancy toll lanes and add new ones.
Popularity of Express Lanes Spreads Beyond Virginia
Dan Vock of Governing takes a broad look at congestion pricing, beginning with the success of Virginia's 66 Express Lanes, the ones where tolls initially topped $40. Notwithstanding complaints, managed lanes are spreading, but challenges remain.
Amtrak, CN end decades-long dispute with eight-year agreement
The new operating agreement establishes an updated framework for the companies to work together, including processes to resolve disputes.
Northwest rail fans eager for Sept. 30 debut of Amtrak’s Airo fleet
Get ready for that new train smell and more seats. But they won’t go faster or run more frequently on the Cascades route in Washington and Oregon.
Judges permit Denver to divert 77,000 acre feet from the Colorado River for reservoir expansion
Overuse and climate change have caused the Colorado River’s water levels to plummet.
NYC to turn city-owned property into thousands of homes
The city has scheduled a public hearing regarding the development for October.
Buses travel at 5mph along this route in NYC. The Bronx's first-ever busway looks to change that
Prior to the busway, buses on the Bx36 route traveled as slowly as 5 miles per hour.
Pittsburg launches 'EZ permits,' aims for one-day turnaround for low-risk permits
The pilot ‘fast lane’ for permits is part of a bundle of modernization efforts for Pittsburg’s permitting process.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Thousand Oaks
City of Wisconsin Rapids
Harvard University Graduate School of Design
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello