Are we hurting carpoolers?

Pam O'Connor, the Metro Board Chair, got a question from a reader on her live chat about the concept of "congestion pricing" and whether carpoolers were being punished by allowing solo drivers to share carpool lanes if they pay a toll. Her response:

The intent of congestion pricing isn't to punish carpoolers. Metro is a huge supporter of carpooling and in fact provides billions of dollars to construct carpool lanes. We also have a department that works constantly with major employers, offering carpool incentive programs. Metro also provides subsidies to people who form vanpools. The problem is that many of our carpool lanes are running at or over capacity during peak hours and are not (or won't in the near future) be providing any speed advantage to carpoolers. Our hope with congestion pricing is to better manage our highway lanes -- to make the system work more efficiently and optimally. We think toll lanes will keep the lanes running at 50 miles per hour. And any money collected -- although this is far from a huge money-making tool -- would be used to increase other transit options along the corridor like van pool subsidies and add more freeway express buses to help everyone move better … especially those who use transit or carpool.

Comments

[Marcotico]

Ray - While your comment is correct from an engineering perspective it is totally unfeasible from a social, and political perspective. the fact is in Los Angeles Caltrans was not able to reserve the right of way necessary to expand. So any new lanes will have to take away commercial or residential property. They will either have to use eminent domain which is coming under attack, or convince people to sell their property which is equally unlikely. Look at the 405 over the Sepulveda pass. A very worthy project stuck because they can't expand into any of the homes out there.

[Ray]

It is a proven fact that vehicles emit less pollutants and get better gas mileage at freeways speeds versus stop and go traffic. The result is less smog, lower gasoline consumption, and people getting to where they need to go in a timely manner. Have Caltrans build new freeways and expand existing ones to accomodate a larger volume of traffic. If there are enough lanes, then there would be no need for carpool lanes at all.

[cesar G]

Wow, so much space for cars that will soon clog it up. Wish you would have thrown in some light rail whille you were thinking about the future of L.A traffic.

Go Caltrans!

[Scotty]

The carpool lanes are a total waste. They are now more congested than the freeway. If they would do away with the double yellow lines, like on the 22 Fwy., then they might flow a lot better. This is especially true near freeway interchanges, where Caltrans has made the egress points too close to the connecting freeway.

[Marcotico]

Actually, toll lanes increase carpooling, as has been shown on the 91 and the 15 in San Diego. Because the toll is controlled to allow for free flowing traffic (unlike carpool lanes) and if you carpool (with another adult) you pay half the toll. AS many people point out, one of the biggest problems with carpools is that most carpoolers are riding with family members. So they would see no benefit from splitting a toll. If you and another co-worker are taking the same freeway you may consider carpooling, but only if it was convenient, and you wouldn't if you saw a clogged carpool lane every morning. If you could to pay to get congestion free to work you definitely would carpool to split the cost.

An important thing to remember is that another failure in carpool design is single lane operation, that is why Bertha and her pal Sid going 60 miles an hour in the Buick Century cause delays in the car pool lane. Toll lanes need to be designed as two lane operations. I used to be opposed to toll lanes on principle but the more I've studied the information on them the more I'm convinced they will be a very good idea.

[Jamie]

how are they going to fit carpool lanes on the 10 freeway between the 405 and 110?

[Kerry]

The *PROBLEM* is that the carpool lanes are already hopelessly clogged with scofflaw single-occupant drivers who are NOT driving hybrids or ZEVs, but know they won't be caught or penalized for using the carpool lane as their private passing lane. Enforce existing laws (mandatory insurance, *cough, cough*) before creating yet more bureaucratic 'solutions'.

[Paul]

The carpool lanes are too popular! Let's get rid of them!

Idiots.