MUNICIPAL AGENCY NEWS
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Local agencies pave the way for 91 Express Lane project
Officials met to agree on details pertaining to the toll road’s construction and operation.
by Caitlin AdamsPublished: December 19, 2011 02:05 PM
Commuters traveling between Riverside and Orange counties can look forward to a smoother trip along the 91 Freeway in the future, thanks to a plan to extend the freeway’s express lanes. Officials from the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) met last week to sign a cooperative agreement that outlines logistics of the road’s construction and operation.
“The Riverside Freeway is one of the busiest in the nation, and the 91 Express Lanes has provided a welcome alternative for drivers, saving them an average of 30 minutes during rush hour,” said OCTA Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Patricia Bates. “Finding solutions to regional traffic problems requires that counties work together, and this is one more example of how a successful partnership can bring relief for Southern California commuters.”
The current plan details an 8-mile extension of the express lanes, from the Orange County line to the I-15 in Riverside. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in 2013, pending the approval of funding, with the lanes set to open in 2017. The project has been selected to receive a federal grant of $20 million through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The overall SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project is estimated to cost $1.3 billion and create 16,000 jobs.
Under the agreement between OCTA and RCTC, the 91 Express Lanes will operate as a single facility, with one customer service center and unique tolling policies and prices. Because parts of the 91 Freeway fall under the jurisdiction of both counties, an agreement was necessary to move ahead with the work. The two agencies have been collaborating on the extension of the express lanes since it was authorized by legislation in 2008.
“The 91 Express Lanes is a model nationwide for providing drivers with a free-flowing traffic option, and the extension of the lanes will help improve the critical link between our two counties,” said OCTA Director and Third District Supervisor Bill Campbell.
The agreement between OCTA and RCTC addresses the design, construction and operation of the lanes, and lays the groundwork for construction to begin. It also utilizes joint contracts for maintenance and operations services for the 91 Express Lanes, creating cost savings for both agencies.
“This is a great example of two agencies working together to benefit the public,” said RCTC Vice Chair Karen Spiegel. “The combination of this agreement and the federal TIGER funding that was awarded to it this week brings traffic relief on the 91 a few steps closer to everyone who depends on this corridor.”
The 91 Freeway services approximately 300,000 vehicles each day, with about 32,000 drivers using the Express Lanes. For more information about the plan to extend the express lanes along the 91 Freeway, visit the RCTC’s SR-91 project page.
Related headlines
OCTA pumps $72.5 million into SR-91
I-5 Gateway Project nabs award
OCTA, Caltrans kick off $102 million project
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“The Riverside Freeway is one of the busiest in the nation, and the 91 Express Lanes has provided a welcome alternative for drivers, saving them an average of 30 minutes during rush hour,” said OCTA Chair and Fifth District Supervisor Patricia Bates. “Finding solutions to regional traffic problems requires that counties work together, and this is one more example of how a successful partnership can bring relief for Southern California commuters.” The current plan details an 8-mile extension of the express lanes, from the Orange County line to the I-15 in Riverside. Construction on the project is anticipated to begin in 2013, pending the approval of funding, with the lanes set to open in 2017. The project has been selected to receive a federal grant of $20 million through the Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) program. The overall SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project is estimated to cost $1.3 billion and create 16,000 jobs. Under the agreement between OCTA and RCTC, the 91 Express Lanes will operate as a single facility, with one customer service center and unique tolling policies and prices. Because parts of the 91 Freeway fall under the jurisdiction of both counties, an agreement was necessary to move ahead with the work. The two agencies have been collaborating on the extension of the express lanes since it was authorized by legislation in 2008. “The 91 Express Lanes is a model nationwide for providing drivers with a free-flowing traffic option, and the extension of the lanes will help improve the critical link between our two counties,” said OCTA Director and Third District Supervisor Bill Campbell. The agreement between OCTA and RCTC addresses the design, construction and operation of the lanes, and lays the groundwork for construction to begin. It also utilizes joint contracts for maintenance and operations services for the 91 Express Lanes, creating cost savings for both agencies. “This is a great example of two agencies working together to benefit the public,” said RCTC Vice Chair Karen Spiegel. “The combination of this agreement and the federal TIGER funding that was awarded to it this week brings traffic relief on the 91 a few steps closer to everyone who depends on this corridor.” The 91 Freeway services approximately 300,000 vehicles each day, with about 32,000 drivers using the Express Lanes. For more information about the plan to extend the express lanes along the 91 Freeway, visit the RCTC’s SR-91 project page. Related headlines OCTA pumps $72.5 million into SR-91 I-5 Gateway Project nabs award OCTA, Caltrans kick off $102 million project |
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