skidder

405 Freeway expansion starts this year:

The biggest direct impact for bicycle traffic will be on the SART later this year (if the construction timeline is correct) when the freeway is widened over the 405 freeway. I'll almost bet they'll close the SART for some time during this project (probably during the peak-use summer season). Sheesh, it gets closed by the homeless situation, now this. From a driver's perspective I'm not too thrilled that they are taking away the carpool lanes and turning them into toll lanes, and using Measure 'M' funds to do it, since the lanes were already paid for with gas tax monies, AND Measure 'M' funds were supposed to be used for road maintenance, not building toll lanes.

https://voiceofoc.org/2018/01/constr...way-expansion/

TrojanHorse

Hey, those tolls go to support cheap bus fares man... Good point though.

The other freeway overpass projects took what, 6 months each (SART at the 91, Coyote creek at the 5)? It's going to be a while.

Garfield Cat

I used a toll road going from Tustin to Aliso Viejo. Took that toll road round trip on a weekday. This was for work. but at the office it got busy and forgot to go online to pay the toll. So beyond that 5 day grace period, I suddenly remembered that I forgot.

I went online to get the phone number and the lady said I have to pay $127. What? You got to be kidding!!

Little did I know that its suppose to scare you into joining one of their sign-up programs. So I signed up for their lowest level of participation. Paid the $23 with my credit card right there and then.

This registration only includes 4 Toll Roads in Orange County because I chose the lowest participation: 73, 133, 241, 261.

I would imagine the toll charge next to the 405 expansion isn't covered, right?

TrojanHorse

If we're lucky it will be YET ANOTHER standalone toll program. In all seriousness, it will probably be the same thing as the 10 and the 110 (fastrack?) but you have to have their damn $3 a month hardware and can't just pay for it after the fact.

skidder

My brother works up near downtown L.A., used to carpool up there with a co0worker a few days aweek so they could use the (formerly free) carpool lane on the 110 freeway. He got super P.O.d when it got changed to a toll lane ('Lexus Lane' is what its being called), and now he and the coworker drive their own cars. My brother does take the Metro trains from Long Beach on occasion, but he's still peeved about the whole situation.

The 405 toll lane will probably be integrated into the OC toll system, but I bet there wont be any coordination between OC and LA on this since they are in different counties/under different Caltrans jurisdictions.

jimincalif

I've had a toll transponder for the 241/261/73 routes for as long as I can remember. It's always worked on the 91 although I haven't used it there in years. I was driving in the Bay Area Memorial Day weekend 2001 and my transponder worked for the Golden Gate Bridge. So there is/was some sort of coordination. I've never tried the 110.

TrojanHorse

My wife just told me her fastrack transponder (110/10) works on the 73.

Eggman84

Measure M funds are only spent in LA county, funded by a sales tax in LA county (so yes if you live elsewhere but buy something in LA county you are helping to fund transportation in LA county). Measure M funds can not be spent in Orange County. Not sure where Orange County is getting the approximately $2 Billion to fund expansion of the 405. I do find it funny that Orange County is doubling down on highways as studies show that expanding highways does not reduce congestion. It is also a fallacy that gas taxes cover 100% of road building/maintenance cost; don't know latest figures but the rest is from general tax fund. Oh, and what happens when those new lanes hit LA county line, or south past John Wayne Airport. To me it seems they are just making a larger parking lot. As a transportation cyclist though, it will provided me more humor as I pass over the 405 and see even more people sitting in their expensive cars fuming about how all those other inconsiderate folk are causing gridlock, climate change, etc.

TakingMyTime

When I was working, there were many times I would find myself on the 110 going North into LA around 4-5 in morning. The toll lane (let alone the whole freeway) was basically wide open. You'd always see someone blasting down the toll road when the rest of the lanes were wide open too. I'm guessing a lot of big companies give these transponders to there employees and the guys driving really don't give a heck about it.

TakingMyTime

Widening freeways, creating toll and carpool lanes really doesn't do anything. It's like giving an alcoholic a bigger bottle.

TrojanHorse

My favorite highway sighting is the solo driver in a carpool lane when there is no appreciable traffic in the normal lanes (in a non-transponder area). Why risk a $400 fine for nothing?

jimincalif

OC has its own Measure M, dating back to 1991 and extended to something like 2041:

Measure M Overview

Eggman84

Thanks for the link. Was unaware of that. I never have figured out the numbering/lettering system used in California for all the ballot initiatives. Designed to confuse the voter?

calamarichris

Orangutan County, lol.

trailangel

I always like it when they raise the price of gas..... gets people off the highway so I can get to work.

jimincalif

Confuse? Our honest public servants would never try to confuse voters! [/sarcasm]

Beachgrad05

As a former commuter that had to drive that stretch between the 405/22 and the 405/73 thru HB and Westminster etc....I am glad they are finally doing something. That was the worst part of my commute from Lakewood to Laguna Hills. It was bumper to bumper thru that section / stop and go...at a crawl. Freeway got gradually wider closer it got to 73 and beyond...and the traffic moved faster. It was the reason I was riding my motorcycle to get to work 2 days a week. And that lasted about 5 months before I was hit.

LKA 

A little after Y2K I began work @ the Caltrans Transportation Management Center [TMC] off Sand Canyon... <3 miles from home, so I didn't even need a freeway to get there. Oh the irony. Being able to walk/bike to work was beyond awesome...happiest I'd ever been in a job. More irony: before that, I had to commute by air-rental car. And prior to that I commuted by bike ~14 miles to Costa Mesa for several years, always amazed @ the congested 405 [6:30-7AM] no matter which bridge I used to cycle across...back then any bridge North of Red Hill offered a great gridlock view. After a life of extremes in commuting, I've found that a no-car/no-airplane commute is a huge cog in the happiness machine.

Note: Please don't flood me with Caltrans complaints- I was only a contract IT consultant who left a while back to care for Mom who has late stage Alzheimer's. When Mom passes, I may go back to work...and a freeway commute will definitely be a deal-breaker.

Good night all!

TrojanHorse

I feel ya! I work at home. I'll drive into the office once a week (maybe) for some socializing and a meeting but not till 11 am and then I stay late to avoid the nastiness.

Even so, I still put 15-20k miles on my car each year driving my kids all over creation.

LKA 

You are an unsung hero, one of the few actually helping to reduce both traffic & pollution. Oh wait, you said you have kids, never mind. LOL, just kidding, old guy humor. Mine are all grown, but hey 2 out of 3 are cyclists.

Back to the topic.....in all, a five year project. Ouch.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For those seeking more information, I offer some copy/paste & a couple links.

Per the OCTA site:
OCTA in cooperation with Caltrans is widening the San Diego Freeway (I-405) between SR-73 and I-605.The project will improve 16 miles of I-405 between the SR-73 freeway in Costa Mesa and I-605 near the L.A. County line. Overnight lane and ramp closures are anticipated to begin Tuesday, Mar. 6 as early as 9 p.m.

Design & construction - 2018 to 2023
Project completion &
405 express lanes open - 2023

I-405 Improvements (propaganda)
Map & timeline (may yield certificate error)

Goodnight!

TrojanHorse

so 5 year PLAN which means a 7 year project with assorted overruns. (naturally)

jimincalif

No doubt, but it will still be done before the train to nowhere!

Garfield Cat

Dr. Sheldon Cooper loves trains. Look where it got him!!

ZippyThePinhead

The California way. Sacramento, helping unionized workers stretch the job out so it takes as long as possible to milk that taxpayer-funded cow.

The Bullet Train to BFE is pushing towards a cost of $200 million per mile.

In the end, would I be surprised if the project stalls and never gets beyond the Fresno <--> Bakersfield section? Not at all. Sacramento pols, always wrong, never in doubt.

TrojanHorse

200 hundred million per mile.... holeeeeeeeeeeey cats.

It'll be awesome if you want to get to Stockton from Modesto for $485, assuming they manage to even complete that portion.