Font Size

Local News

E-mail

Close Window E-mail This Page

Bay Area Transportation Officials OK Toll Lanes

Required fields are marked with an asterisk(*)

Recipient E-mail:*
- Your Name:*
- Your E-mail:*
Add a Message:
Send me a copy of this e-mail.

Type the characters in this picture:*

Click here to refresh with new letters

The information you provide will be used only to send the requested e-mail and will not be used to send any other e-mail communications. Read more in our Privacy Policy

Send E-mail

Print Share + Comments

Jul 23, 2008 6:10 pm US/Pacific

Bay Area Transportation Officials OK Toll Lanes

Drivers traveling alone could be allowed to use some Bay Area highway carpool lanes as early as 2010, but would have to pay a fee to do so, transportation officials announced Wednesday.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted in favor Wednesday of the $3.7 billion plan designed to reduce traffic congestion and unhealthy vehicle emissions from the Bay Area's often crowded highways, transportation commission spokesman John Goodwin said.

The High Occupancy Toll, or HOT, would have drivers of passenger-less vehicles pay between 20 and 60 cents per mile traveled and will cover 800 miles of Bay Area highway lanes, according to preliminary estimates.

Drivers would essentially "buy their way into carpool lanes," Goodwin said.

"Among the goals are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce average daily vehicle miles traveled and to reduce congestion," Goodwin said. "The HOT lane network is a way to accomplish all of those goals."

The HOT is part of a $31.6 billion plan also approved Wednesday by transportation commission that, between 2010 and 2035, will work to solve traffic problems and simultaneously combat global warming.

Portions of Interstate Highways 580 and 680 may have HOT lanes implemented by late 2010 or early 2011, Goodwin said.