Green stickers and Fastrak in So Cal

Adding to the questions...

I have a Fastrak that works on San Francisco area bridges. Can I use it on Southern California toll roads?

 

Yes

 

I think it's best to look at the regional FasTrak site for the area in question as to the rules. FasTrak® - Keeping the Bay Area Moving is the Bay Area one.

I don't know about So Cal since I don't go there often and it's should be all moot for me since I have the now expired and useless yellow HOV stickers.

 

Our local newspaper traffic reporter was asked this question, and the answer was that the Fastrak that you use in the San Francisco Bay area works on any California toll road/bridge/lane that uses Fastrak, but will not work anywhere outside of California.

But I understand that the HOV stickers are not valid on many toll roads in Southern California. These are not HOV; they are pay-to-use for everyone, like the bridges in the SF Bay area.

 

In Southern CA, the FASTRAK Toll Roads 73 and 241 require a transponder (or a payment at toll plaza) ... and they have nothing to do with the HOV lanes that are on the public freeways that I know of.

There are other highways and such that have concurrent lanes, like 91 and I have always wondered how that worked with a sticker and a transponder...

 

Has the green sticker program in California been appproved? two weeks ago the folks at CARB said no.

 

Not yet. I think it will be a few months before the Feds approve the program. Don't expect the government and function quickly and efficiently. In 2005, several months passed before the Feds approved the original solo HOV program.

 

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm#FAQ

 

I wish folks would stop posting that the green stickers are problems. They are NOT!

http://www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm#FAQ

 

I did a summary page for California Plug in Prius owners:
http://ocprius.com/pip.html

GREEN CARPOOL STICKER:

The new 2012 Plug In Prius will get a new GREEN California Carpool sticker good until 2015 (DMV link ). [FONT=Arial,sans-serif]Green CAV decals will be issued to the first 40,000 applicants that purchase or lease cars meeting California’s Enhanced Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle (Enhanced AT PZEV) requirements. Vehicles qualifying for this new CAV decal will be added to ARB’s website. For more information, visit www.arb.ca.gov. You will need a VIN # and permanent license plate number to complete the $8 form.[/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]FORM is here : http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg1000.pdf[/FONT]

1. [FONT=Arial,sans-serif]California REBATE $1,500:[/FONT] ​

[FONT=Arial,sans-serif]The CVRP Just approved for $1500 rebate from California ( while the pool lasts) and [/FONT]added the Plugin to the list of eligible vehicles . File as soon as you get your car to make certain there is still money there.

http://energycenter.org/index.php/in...gible-vehicles

1. IRS Tax Credit $2,500: There is a $2500 tax credit for the year you purchased the car (so you would have to file your 2012 taxes and owe money): http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=219867,00.html ​

http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=252706,00.html for Toyota

1. Updated MPG numbers for the plug-in model at an improved 95 mpge, while the regular hybrid drive operation has increased one mpg to 50. (article) ​
2. Plug In Prius Owners Manual from PriusChat (link may change- use article #26): ​

http://priuschat.com/forums/toyota-prius-plug-in/103349-owners-manual-pip-out-3.html#post1468408

​

 

My dealer told me yesterday when I picked up my PiP that the program for CA has been approved on Friday 3/2/12. I have not been able to confirm that from anywhere on the net yet, but I am hopeful!

 

It is approved. I talked with the person who writes the checks for the Center for Sustainable Enegery ($1500 rebate to CA residents) and he had also confirmed it.

 

If you read just the FAQ, it sounds like there is no problem. But I think the reason why people are concerned is b/c at the top of that page, it states:

from: Eligible Vehicles - Single Occupant Carpool Lane Use Stickers