I-105 ExpressLanes Project kicks off, part of our Twenty-Eight by ’28 Initiative  

On April 25, a group of officials and board members from Metro and Caltrans gathered in Lennox to celebrate the groundbreaking of the I-105 ExpressLanes Project. 

This $1.4 billion project is funded by Measure M, the local sales tax measure approved by LA County voters in 2016, the State of California, and future toll revenue bonds.   

At the event, they were joined by Olympians Jason Richardson (track and field) and Lauren Doyle (rugby). Why? You guessed it –– this project is part of our Twenty-Eight by ’‘28 Initiative. When complete, the new I-105 ExpressLanes (in combination with the existing ExpressLanes on the I-110 and I-10) will transport thousands of sports fans from LAX to Olympic and Paralympic Games venues in Inglewood, Carson, Los Angeles, Long Beach, and beyond, as well as hundreds of additional destinations throughout the region. Trips to LAX, meanwhile, will become a lot more reliable.  

For those of you who haven’t used them yet, ExpressLanes are managed freeway lanes that are free for eligible carpoolers, while solo drivers can access them by paying a dynamic toll based on real-time traffic conditions (more on how they work here). They’re designed to make your commute faster and more reliable –– in fact, during peak times, the I-105 ExpressLanes are expected to reduce commute times by up to 50 percent compared to the existing HOV lanes, and up to 10 percent in the general-purpose lanes. There are currently 25 miles of Metro ExpressLanes (that’s 50 lane-miles in both directions) on portions of the I-10 and I-110. When complete, these new ExpressLanes will bring that total to 41 miles (135 lane-miles in all).  

If you’ve driven on the I-105 corridor, you’ve probably experienced severe gridlock in the general-purpose lanes as well as the carpool lanes. Metro ExpressLanes are designed to change that. Working in collaboration with Caltrans District 7, we are now converting the existing carpool lanes (also known as HOV, or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes) into ExpressLanes and will add a second express lane, too, resulting in two Metro ExpressLanes in each direction starting at I-405 in Inglewood and continuing east to I-605 in Norwalk.  

This project will be built in three segments: .  

• Segment 1: I-105 between I-405 and Central Avenue. (This segment will be open to traffic before the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games arrive in Los Angeles.)  

• Segment 2: I-105 between Central Avenue and I-710. Construction is slated to begin in 2026.  

• Segment 3: I-105 between I-710 and Studebaker Road. Construction is slated to begin in 2026.  

We know that freeway work can be controversial, and for good reason. Below are several questions that we’ve received about this project. We’ve included our answers below.  

Will this project widen the freeway?  

This project will not widen the freeway in a traditional sense. While there are select places where we will be adding more roadway pavement for this project –– the widths vary from 10 to 20 feet in different sections –– the project falls within the existing Caltrans right-of-way. No property has been acquired for this segment of the project. We are also implementing key safety features, such as channelizers and high visibility striping, to reduce the risk of crashes on the freeway and improve your overall experience.   

Won’t building new lanes incentivize driving on the freeway, causing it to remain just as gridlocked as before?  

Many experts have pointed out that adding more capacity on the freeway often invites more trips, and more trips at peak hours –– a phenomenon we call “induced demand.” This can happen when builders construct general purpose lanes, but Metro ExpressLanes are different, being managed lanes. The dynamic prices charged as tolls control the level of demand for these special lanes, making them attractive options for carpoolers (who use them for free) and single drivers who are willing to pay extra to escape the traffic in a pinch. Because of the tolls, Metro ExpressLanes don’t necessarily induce more trips. Rather, they save you time on the trips you’re already taking.  

As a transit agency, why are you investing money in freeways at all?   

Given that our Metro ExpressLanes are built on major freeways, you might think that they are designed solely for drivers and not for transit riders, let alone the people who live close to freeways and experience what we call “externalities,” such as noise and pollution created by freeway traffic. But not only is the I-105 ExpressLanes project included in the Measure M sales tax measure approved in 2016, it is also critical to funding transit. That’s right –– the net toll revenues from ExpressLanes are reinvested in improving all kinds of active transportation and transit options in the surrounding communities. We have already reinvested over $186 million in revenues from the I-10 and I-110 ExpressLanes in various projects designed to benefit walkers, rollers, bikers, and riders. Think Metro J Line, Metro Bike Share, walkways, pedestrian safety improvements, tree canopies, and even the Harbor Gateway portion of the Dodger Stadium Express! In other words, ExpressLanes help us mitigate the negative impacts associated with freeways while improving alternative modes of travel.  

What about people who can’t afford it?  

We know that ExpressLanes can cost extra to use, which can create a on burden low-income drivers. That’s why we offer a Low Income Assistance Program (LIAP) for Los Angeles residents. Qualifying account holders pay no monthly account fee and also receive a credit when they open their accounts. Our data shows that the program is making a difference, as Low Income Assistance Plan accountholders make more ExpressLanes trips on average than standard accountholders after correcting for the effect of income on total annual miles driven.  

Planning, community engagement, and the ongoing success of our existing Metro ExpressLanes demonstrate that this project will improve commutes for everyone who lives and travels through Los Angeles –– not only during the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but for decades to come. We’ll keep you in the loop as construction moves forward. Do you have questions? Concerns? We want to hear from you! Please leave a comment.  

As always, thanks for going Metro.