Yesterday’s LA Times story entitled “freeway toll plan is in fast lane “ reminded me of a report produced by the Reason Foundation last July/August. It was just a matter of time before this other shoe would fall. Those of us who fill up in Orange County extended Measure M for an additional 30 years to raise $11.8 Billion for our roads. Therefore, in addition to the standard fuel excise tax we will continue to pay a sales tax for the privilege of using these roads as we motor around southern CA. Let’s not forget that many OC residents may not use the OC toll roads but do drive some of the car pool lanes which may become part of the proposal at a future date. Is this proposed action the next step to social engineering? Force us out of our cars to use mass transit?
The Times story states that the first phase of “the plan would convert existing carpool lanes into toll lanes on 85 miles of three freeways; the 110, 210, 605 and Interstate 10.” If this plan goes into effect in LA you can rest assured that the connecting roads in Orange County with HOV lanes, such as the 405, 605, 5, 55 & 57 will quickly follow suit.
The Times story projects that fees to use some of our car pool lanes could be imposed as early as next year. Am I dreaming or did over 60 percent of CA voters approve statewide Bond Measure Prop 1B ($19.9 Billion–SB1266) to address our transportation needs. So we will continue to pay, pay and pay some more.
Let me share part of the Reason report as written by Reason Foundation Director of Transportation Robert Poole.
“The moment of truth for HOV lanes has arrived in California. In June, the federal government informed Caltrans that the state is out of compliance with minimum federal standards that require such lanes to flow at an average rush-hour speed of at least 45 mph. The standard exists because HOV lanes are supposed to reward those who give up solo driving (by joining a carpool) with faster trips. On some of the most-congested Southern California freeways, rush-hour HOV lanes run at 10 mph or less. Congestion is also plaguing several HOV lanes in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Thus far, the fixes being discussed by Caltrans are mostly tinkering, such as limiting the number of hybrids allowed to use the lanes, extending the hours that “diamond lane” versions are in operation, standardizing policy on where drivers can enter and exit HOV lanes, beefing up patrol-car enforcement, and (perhaps) increasing the required occupancy from two persons to three. (Currently, only a handful of California’s HOV lanes require three occupants.)
How California addresses this problem matters, since the state has far more HOV lanes (1,350 lane-miles worth) than any other state, and plans to add 950 lane-miles more. Getting this wrong will have major consequences for California motorists, whereas breaking new ground could set an example for other states that are nowhere near as far along in implementing HOV or HOT lanes.
The proposed solutions don’t cope with the real failings of HOV lanes as currently operated in America. First, they don’t address the major problem of “fampooling.” As Alan Pisarski, author of Commuting in America, has concluded, the traditional commuter carpool (two or more employees riding together to work) has “functionally disappeared.” Pisarski estimates that up to 80% of “carpools” consist of family members who would be riding together anyway; hence, “fampools” result in no reduction in rush-hour traffic, but simply get a slightly faster ride in the HOV lane.
…..the congestion relief offered by HOV lanes is not sustainable. Over time, in growing metro areas, the lanes fill up and lose their time-saving advantage. If and when the political hurdles to upping the requirement from HOV-2 to HOV-3 can be overcome, there is then a new problem of “empty-lane syndrome,” since three-person carpools (or “fampools”) are a lot harder to form and maintain than two-person ones. Hence, the powerful case for switching from HOV to HOT (which is apparently not part of Caltrans’ set of near-term options).”
To read the entire Reason Foundation report simply click on the following link.http://www.reason.org/phprint.php4
Juice readers. Your comments on addressing the congestion on our roads are truly welcome
Don’t worry about the HOV lanes.
As a result of the current budget crisis we’ll soon be given two choices – 1) A tax increase or 2) sell-off one or more freeways to become toll roads for 20 or more years.
Time to hang up the car keys and get a bike