Studies are beginning for a key Measure M project to convert the HOV lanes to ExpressLanes on the 105 freeway for 15.7 miles between the 405 and the 605 freeways. The studies will be looking at the impact of making that change.
The ExpressLanes on the 10 and 110 freeways have proven to be very popular and offer faster trips for carpoolers, vanpoolers, bus riders, as well as single occupancy motorists who pay tolls that vary depending on levels of traffic congestion. Net revenues from tolls have contributed to transportation improvements in the 10 and 110 corridors.
As those who drive on the 105 know, the freeway — which is one of the primary corridor traveled by motorists to reach LAX — can be very congested. Between 200,000 and 250,000 vehicles use the freeway on a typical day and sections of the freeway are classified as “degraded” by the federal government, meaning speeds in the HOV lanes are less than 45 miles per hour more than 10 percent of the time.
Metro and Caltrans will be working together on the necessary engineering and environmental studies for the 105 ExpressLanes project. The study will evaluate the conversion of the existing HOV lane on the 105 into ExpressLanes and the potential addition of a second ExpressLane in each direction.
The first step of the study is holding Public Scoping Meetings to receive comments from the public and agencies about issues and concerns that are important to them. The Public Scoping period is open until Monday, April 16. Please visit www.metro.net/105ExpressLanes to submit comments or for more information.
Meeting dates and times are below. The meeting on March 22 will be webcast for those who cannot make any of the meetings.
The study area for this project includes nine cities and unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County, including Los Angeles, Downey, Norwalk, Paramount, Lynwood, South Gate, Inglewood, Hawthorne and El Segundo.
Wednesday, March 21, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Lennox Park – Community Room
10828 Condon Av, Lennox, CA 90304
Thursday, March 22, 6 p.m .to 8 p.m.
The Watts Labor Community Action Committee – Phoenix Hall
10950 S. Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059
Live webcast: www.tinyurl.com/105ExpressLanes
Saturday, March 24, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Paramount Community Center
14400 Paramount Bl, Paramount, CA 90723
Categories: Projects
What about those of us who ride motorcycles responsibly? Either we pay for the express lanes or put our lives more at risk in the general traffic. My tax dollars helped pay for the I-105 with the HOV lane when it was built and now this?
Hi Loy;
Motorcycles can use the current ExpressLanes for free and no transponder is required.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Metro please apply tolls for ALL PASSENGER CARS WITH NO EXCEPTION WITH CARPOOLERS. Most of them are not paying the tolls to use the ExpressLanes, that’s called cheating and stealing. Hell No to give toll free to idiot drivers, encourage them to use the silver line/ commuter express lines instead of ExpressLines.
Charging toll fees to use the freeway on the 105 is a bad idea. It’s not going to help anyone except the politicians trying to find ways to raise more money for the city.
These meetings are a joke! It’s just a formality to make citizens believe that their voice counts. This project has already been decided and it’s in the works. As if we don’t already pay enough taxes in this state. Now they want to charge us for using our own roads.
Hi Alex;
The tolls would only be on the ExpressLanes on the 105. There would still be general lanes for everyone to use for free.
Steve Hymon
Editor, The Source
Well the 105 need’s to be extended. Is getting worse anf worse. The public Engineers have to relly focus into that project.
The Metro board needs to end the monthly charge on the transponders. Waiving it continuously is not the same as ending it.
The 64 cent question Mr. Steve, is can Metro divert any future revenues from a 105 Toll project to anything else other than future improvements on that corridor? I promise I won’t mention catered talent shows or any other sensitive topics…