91 Express Lanes to reduce some tolls; about damn time!

Editors Note: This is more of a back-lash of corporate greed on the part of the OCTA, taking advantage of Inland residents. 50 cents is a start but ultimately will not be enough since the OCTA raised rates at triple and quadruple the rate of rising gas prices and other expenses. I recommend all Inland drivers reading this put serious thought into alternative means of travel outside of the 91 Express Lanes; carpool, Metrolink, etc.

Some tolls on the 91 Express Lanes will fall by 50 cents Wednesday to reflect reduced traffic flows amid higher unemployment in Orange County and the Inland Empire, the Orange County Transportation Authority said.

Tolls on the 91 Express Lanes change hourly. The planned toll cuts affect 14 hours during the week, all on afternoon eastbound commutes.

The top toll, currently $10 for an eastbound drive between 3 and 4 p.m. Fridays, will fall to $9.50. The new high toll will be $9.55 for the hour between 4 and 5 p.m. Thursdays.

Under OCTA's congestion management pricing policy, tolls are managed to assure a free flow of traffic in the 91 Express Lanes at all times, said Joel Zlotnik, an OCTA spokesman.

It's the first time since OCTA introduced congestion management pricing in July 2003 that some tolls have fallen. Traffic is monitored daily and tolls are adjusted quarterly.

Zlotnik pointed out that the unemployment rate in the Inland Empire rose to 9.2 percent in August from 6.4 percent a year earlier. In Orange County, the unemployment rate was 5.8 percent in August, up from 4.2 percent a year earlier.

"With fewer jobs, we're seeing fewer people use the Express Lanes," he said. "As the economy dips, we're going to see a dip in usage."

This is how OCTA's congestion management pricing works, according to Zlotnik:

• If traffic volume falls below 2,720 vehicles in any hour in six of 12 consecutive weeks, tolls for that hour are reduced by 50 cents.

• If volume rises above 3,200 vehicles in any hour in six of 12 consecutive weeks, tolls for that hour are raised.

The minimum toll is $1.25.

To see the new toll schedule, go to www.octa.net/91tolls