Metro Board Votes To Extend Toll Lane Program, Adds New Charge

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) —  Metro officials Thursday unanimously voted to extend the successful toll lane program on the 10 and 110 freeways beyond January 2015.

Prior to the vote, the board reviewed a report prepared by federal transportation officials which found the county's experimental toll lanes made some rush-hour commutes faster, but made little difference during other commutes.

The report found that drivers traveling west on the 10 Freeway around 7:30 a.m. may have driven up to 18 miles per hour faster when using a toll lane.

However, drivers on the 110 Freeway did not experience faster travel times during the 8 a.m. hour when they used the pay-to-drive routes.

Tolls start at 25 cents per mile and increase up to $1.40 a mile as lanes become more crowded.

Metro has collected more than $23 million in tolls over the past 14 months, which will go back into freeway improvements.

The board also voted 8-3 Thursday to charge a $1 fee per toll road user each month to help cover operation costs.