Frequently Asked Questions about Express Toll Lanes
- Why extend the SR-91 Express Lanes?
- The existing SR-91 Express Lanes in Orange County are a successful demonstration of the value of a concept called “congestion pricing”. Under this concept, drivers who need to travel during peak or congested periods have the option of paying a toll to avoid the stop and go traffic and travel at normal highway speeds.
The existing Express Lanes work great, but they only extend to the Orange County/Riverside County line. Once drivers get to the Riverside County line however the Express Lanes end and there is no option to avoid highly congested, stop and go traffic.
The SR-91 Corridor Improvement Project, being developed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission, will add capacity to one of the most congested freeways in Southern California. In the express lane extension alternative, commuters will have the option of paying an additional toll to continue their drive on the Express Lanes beyond the Orange County line up to I-15 as well as connecting to the southbound I-15 via direct connectors.
- The SR-91 widening project, being developed by the Riverside County Transportation Commission, will extend the express lanes from the Orange County line to I-15. This will provide an option for drivers to pay an additional toll to avoid the congestion currently faced at the county line. This adds additional capacity to one of the most highly congested freeways in Southern California and allows drivers to continue on the express lanes to beyond I-15 or to the south on I-15 on direct connectors to express lanes on I-15.
- Will there be an additional cost to use the Express Lanes in Riverside County?
- Yes. While the exact pricing structure has not been finalized, it is envisioned that the Express Lanes in Riverside County will charge the same toll per mile as the Orange County Express Lanes.
- Will the tolls vary by time of day?
- Yes. The tolls will vary by time of day in order to ensure there is free-flowing traffic in the Express Lanes. To avoid confusion, the toll structure for the Riverside County lanes will be based on the same time periods used by Orange County.
- Will I need a new transponder?
- No. Your current transponders (or toll tags) will work on the extension into Riverside County. Current account holders will not need to set up a new account; just use the new Express Lanes.
If you are a new customer, however, you will be able to open an account through the Riverside County Transportation Commission.
- Who will build operate the Riverside County Express Lanes?
- The Riverside County Transportation Commission will build, operate and manage the Express Lanes extension in close cooperation with Caltrans.
- Who will set the toll rates?
- The Riverside County Transportation Commission will set the toll rates. Like the Orange County Express Lanes, the toll rates will have to be high enough to limit the number of users of the Express Lanes to avoid stop and go traffic and travel at normal highway speeds.
- Where do the toll revenues go that are collected in Riverside County?
- The net revenues from the Express Lanes in Riverside County, after paying for operations and maintenance of the lanes, will be used to pay off the bonds issued to fund construction of the Express Lanes.
Once the bonds are paid off in twenty or thirty years, the revenue from the Express Lanes will be used to fund other transportation improvements in the SR-91 corridor.
