Rules for the upcoming Los Angeles HOT lanes

Very interesting developments.

Variable pricing is currently used on the I-15 HOV lanes here in San Diego. However, it's by time of day rather than by number of occupants. Not sure if avg speed is part of the pricing.

When every car is full of passengers, what will the engineers come up with to relieve traffic congestion?

 

And how do they plan on patrolling the HOT lanes? I've seen solo drivers cruising through the HOV toll section on the 91 and not pay the toll.

Also, how are they planning on preventing the jerks that swerve in and out of the lanes?

 

Is there any chance of that happening within the working lifetimes of the current LA traffic engineers?

 

While the traffic engineers are working -- wonder if they can solve the East LA interchange?

 

Just make every land a HOT lane, and charge $3.00/mile. That will relieve freeway congestion, and the rich people can drive their Lamborgini's as fast as they wish.

 

Ridiculous

 

After 33 years, even I have to admit I am getting tired of the traffic! I find I use Amazon with free shipping. I am amazed the gas, time, and money I save by not going out! I drive to work at 5:10 AM and if I get lucky the return is just before it gets too bad, and that's only 8 of the 12 miles needed for thee journey!
LA Fastrak device set to the "1" is not really in my future!

 

Within the past month I read about a lawsuit being filed asking that cars with stickers be allowed to use the HOT lanes for free. Don't know the outcome.

 

Every who is upset that the MTA is banning your EV from the carpool lanes should go to the FB page for Metro Express Lanes and let them know. Metro ExpressLanes - Los Angeles, CA - Public Transportation, Government Organization | Facebook

Here is text you can use if you want:
I understand your reasoning in banning my White-Stickered EV from free use of the new carpool lanes on the 10 and 110 freeway, but I strongly disagree. I purchased my vehicle so I could use these lanes as the State had promised me. Your action will have a direct, negative impact on my daily life. As such, though I may have supported the idea of a toll lane, this action will result in my becoming an active and vocal opponent. I plead with you to reconsider, for both my sake and the future success of your program. Banning EVs from these lanes will only result in public anger at the entire project, leading ultimately to it's demise.

Thanks all!

 

lolwut? you purchased your vehicle so you could use the lanes at the state promised? the state didn't promise squat.

First of all, when the carpool lane sticker program was initiated, there were no HOT lanes, only HOV lanes, and the sticker granted you access to those lanes ONLY. Furthermore, the program has an expiration time, which is currently set to January 1, 2015, and there are no guarantees that it will continue forever. Finally, and most importantly, All CAV decals must also be reauthorized for use by the Federal Highway Administration. If reauthorization is not granted, the Clean Air Vehicle sticker program may end sooner than state law currently allows.

LA Metro has no control over this. Complaining to them is useless and a waste of everyone's time. If you feel that you are really THAT entitled to free HOT lane access (though on what basis I'm not sure, given that you've purchased a vehicle which costs over $30k), then bug the Federal government about it, not Metro. Though, again, I'm not sure what basis you would use – the purpose of HOT lanes is congestion management, not improved air quality, and I don't see how allowing EVs to ride free would help anyone accomplish that goal.

 

Somebody didn't tell LA Metro about this law, apparently.
PiP Eligible for Ca HOV/HOT Lanes

 

From that post:
This exemption does not apply to HOT lanes on State
Highway 110 in Los Angeles until after November 1, 2013, nor
does the exemption apply to HOT lanes on State Highway 10 in Los
Angeles until after March 1, 2014.
Also, people need to realize that this is ultimately a federal, not a state, issue.

 

You seem to be angry.... chill. I bought my car because I though I could use these lanes. Yep. And I want to be able to use them as I thought. Sorry that upsets you so deeply. And complaining to MTA was well as state officials very well may have a result. AB2405 has already been passed, as an example. If you look into the Express Lanes as MTA is implementing them, you will see that the program is riddled with mistakes, that I think will ultimately doom it. Which is a shame, because I also think the basic idea is a good one.

 

Geez.... sounds like a screwy and somewhat complicated system. With the tolls and all, no wonder these are called "Lexus lanes".

 

Yes, it is a total mess. First off, you MUST have a transponder to use the lane, even if you are carpooling. So any visitor to LA will not be able to use these lanes. Next, transponders are link to the specific car. So you cannot get one and swap it out, you have to get one for every car you have. Next, there is a monthly fee regardless of whether you use the system or not. So people who dont use it often, who probably wont go to the trouble to buy a transponder are even LESS likely to get one. Next, although State law requires that all transponders in the state work on all systems in the state, the system in LA will not really work with other transponders... not even with the ones from the 91 freeway in OC!! It is a total mess.

And here is what is going to happen, the VAST majority of drivers do not know about or understand this system, so lots of people who are carpooling are going to hop in these lanes, and then get fines weeks later in the mail. They are going to think the fines are mistakes, they were carpooling after all. When they discover they are not mistakes, and probably by then have also added late fees to their fines, they are going to be livid.

MTA is going to ruin the concept of HOT lanes in LA for a generation. This project is a test. It will be canceled, probably early, but certainly not renewed. I will end up being a waste of money and time, and every pol will be running from it as fast as they can. And in the end MTA will only have themselves to blame.

 

This position mirrors that of people who buy Prius to save money. Some do, some do not. Those that do not made wrong assumptions or erred in the analysis for their specific case.

<<shrug>>
No fun to be them, but you do not *really* expect Joe Highway to take up your cause, do you ? If a specific road was redesignated from HOV to HOT I would be more sympathetic.

 

Yeah, that's because the pricing changes dynamically based on the speed in the lane. Take a wild guess as to how the speed will be measured? How many visitors in LA drive during peak hours? Maybe they shouldn't drive in ANY lane. Your information about the transponder being tied to the vehicle is just flat out wrong. Actually, the monthly fee is waived if you use it at least 4 times a month. And the transponder is unique because it requires you to select how many people are in the car. THAT transponder is completely compatible with every other FasTrak system in the state. Whose info is riddled with errors now?

People who think these lanes won't work should inform all of the professors and PhD students that have written copious amounts of literature on the mechanisms behind these lanes and how/why they work. I'm sure they'll be delighted to find out that all their work is worthless, proven by one-line posts of the genius posters on this forum.

This project is being run by the MTA but has been designed and funded by the Federal government. They are the ones calling the shots here. If you have beef, take it up with them. But you'll be very very hard-pressed to find any sympathy from these folks.

And yes, I might be angry. Because ignorance is a scary thing.