91-EXPRESS: HOVs to be charged half-toll

91-Express will begin charging HOVs half-toll from Jan 1. To date HOV3+ vehicles (those with 3 or more occupants) have been required to obtain a transponder but have been directed to a special HOV lane alongside the two 2 e-toll lanes. The transponder has identified their vehicle but the system has not charged it. Vehicles wishing to use the facility with only a single driver or two occupants have been required to establish an account and to drive one of the two toll lanes. A spotter at an observation point has verified occupant numbers in the HOV lane and clicked a camera to record violations.

Under the terms of its concession Calif Private Transp Company, the group which financed the $130m HOT lanes, (16km of 2x2 lanes built in the former median of the 2x5 lanes SR-91 Fwy about 50km southeast of central Los Angeles in Orange Co CA) had the right after two years to charge half tolls to HOVs if its profit was less than 1.2 times debt service. The 2 years are up Dec 27, and the company is exercising its right to impose the HOV tolls Jan 1 98 because it is not yet making a profit.

Greg Hulsizer, manager of the facility told us the company continues to attract more patrons and is still on track to break even some time around the end of 1998 or early1999. If and when the facility makes a profit 1.2x debt service it has to drop the half-toll on HOVs again.

Meanwhile HOVs constitute about 5k out of 30k daily users of the facility, so the half-tolls should boost revenues 10%.

The group now has 105k transponders of its own out with the public but gets a lot of TCA e-tags from the county tollster and is starting to see the odd transponder from I-15 SANDAG HOT project in San Diego and even from Caltrans northern Calif bridge toll system. A clearing house operation moves outstanding balances between agencies.

No operational changes will be needed at the facility to impose the half tolls. HOV’s will still use the third HOV toll lane but instead of being identified and not billed they will be billed 50% of non-HOV rates. The only change will be that HOV users will be required like non-HOVs now to establish a prepaid account. In effect all users will be treated alike except at the e-toll gantry. This will allow a user to carpool one day and save 50% while other days with the same account and having one or 2 occupants they will be charged the full toll.

Hulsizer says here has been little negative reaction from customers (though some politicians and lobbyists have badmouthed the move) because the half-toll for several people remains a “good buy.” At peak toll rates of $2.95/trip for a SOV or 2OV, the HOV’s will pay just under 50c each.

“That is pretty good value for saving 20 mins,” Hulsizer says.

The only problem we are left with is how to acronym the new mode — 0.5HOT? (Contact Greg Hulsizer 91Xprs 714 637 9191x328)