ORANGE CO CALIF 91-X hiking tolls again

ORANGE CO CALIF

91-X hiking tolls again

Increasing traffic which threatens to clog the 91-Express (91-X) has prompted another set of small toll increases. And 91-X has made the first cautious step toward dynamic pricing, saying that on holidays it may change toll rates independently of any published schedule, which sets tolls for different hourly time blocks on different days of the week.

The new published schedule shows a number of toll increases, called “adjustments” which general manager Greg Hulsizer says are intended to preserve free flow conditions. A press release said:

“When customers pay to enter our lanes, they expect a fast, safe, reliable trip every time and we pride ourselves on delivering that service. Traffic volumes continue to climb across the board. Our traffic is approaching capacity during peak rush hours, creating concerns that if unchecked, customers will encounter delays. The 91 Express Lanes uses congestion pricing, adjusting toll rates to moderate demand to ensure free flowing lanes.”

Effective Apr 19 the top toll rate for the 16km trip on 91-X goes from $2.95 to $3.20. This is 7am to 8am westbound Mon thru Thurs, and eastbound 4pm to 6pm Frid.

Contraflow rushhour rates have been increased from 75c and 80c to $1.00, and Sat and Sun rates 10am to 9pm are increased from $1.10 to $1.50. Shoulder rates have also been increased. The toll schedule gets more complex each time an adjustment is made. The only days with the same tolls hour by hour are now Tue Wed and Thu. Night-time tolls remain generally 60c.

Toll rates are now 60c, $1.00, $1.10, $1.50, $1.60, $2.25, $3.05, $3.20. From Sept 14 97 until the new rates there were also 8 tolls: 60c, 75c, 85c, $1.10, $1.60, $1.85, $2.85, $2.95.

Tiny step toward dynamic price

The new toll rate card distributed to patrons states: “Rates vary to optimize traffic flows...” For the first time 91-X will change its toll rates on holidays to reflect holiday-period traffic patterns, independent of any printed schedule — a small but significant move toward dynamic pricing. For the first time patrons are instructed on the toll rate card they are mailed: “The toll schedule above applies to all non-holiday periods. Tolls subject to change during holiday periods to reflect holiday-period traffic patterns. Information on holiday period toll schedules can be obtained by calling our automated customer service line at 908 280 9191. Be sure to check the toll on our (variable) message signs before entering the 91 Express Lanes. Toll schedules subject to change.”

91-X did not draw attention to this. It is not mentioned in their press materials and gen mgr Hulsizer did not mention it in conversation with us. The local media didn’t pick up on it.

Doing better

Hulsizer says 91-X is running just over 30k vehs/day weekdays, an increase of about 10 percent over the level reported 6 months ago. It now has 110k patrons, people who have established toll accounts, and equipped themselves with a 91-X transponder. Motorists with accounts with the Transp Corridors Agency (TCA) are also able to use the 91-X since there is reciprocity between the two toll agencies. The FasTrak logo is used for electronic tolling (ET) on all Calif toll facilities.

EC the dark cloud for 91-X

The great dark cloud on the 91-X financial horizon is the prospective opening of a quasi-rival toll road, the Eastern Corridor (EC) sometime between October and the end of this year. The EC, designated as state routes 241, 261 and 133 is 40km of roads in an inverted Y-plan which is plugged into the free lanes of SR-91 at its northern terminus — just a third of the way along 91-X traveling westward. A good portion of 91-X traffic will not be affected by the EC, notably 91 traffic westbound which is headed for Anaheim (Disneyland), downtown LA, LAX airport and the greater part of the Los Angeles area to the west and north.

At the western end of 91-X the lanes split, with ramps directly connecting to 91-westbound and to CA-55 which turns about 80 degrees south. The south-heading CA-55, an 8-lane fwy is horribly overcrowded and the new EC will probably attract a lot of traffic bound for the middle of Orange Co and most of the traffic bound for the southern part of Orange county away from 91/91-X, according to locals (see the crude dashed line in the map showing 91/91-X/55 traffic that may be lost to the EC.) The EC’s western leg CA-261 could provide a quicker ride from Riverside Co to the county’s John Wayne airport, Univ Cal Irvine and other major mid-county centers. The toll road via its eastern leg, CA-241/CA-133 will be a far more direct route for Riverside traffic bound for south county. And back too of course.

Greg Hulsizer says the group has its own forecasts of the effect of the EC on 91-X: “Certainly it will give motorists an alternative route. We expect some impact on our traffic but over time we think total traffic will grow again and that there will be enough to support both (toll roads).”

The EC is being set up by the TCA as a traditional toll road with flat rate tolls. It will cost $3.25 to go the full north-south length, making it considerably more expensive than 91-X/55 out of rush hours and weekends but similar at the peak.

Background

91-X is 4-lanes 16km in length in Orange Co Calif running from the Riverside Co westward as far as the CA-55 interchange. Investors, road builder Peter Keewit Sons, the French tollster Transroute and Granite Constr spent $130m building the tollway which is located in the former grass median of state route 91 (CA-91). It opened for business Dec 27 95 and reported revenues of $7m and $13m in its first two years. It was the first investor-built toll road in Calif in the automobile era, the first in North America to have time variable prices and it was the first toll road to be built without any toll plaza, as all patrons must be equipped with an electronic toll transponders. For the first two years carpoolers (HOV-3) drove free. Now they pay half-toll. (Contact 91-X, 714 637 9191)

Do you think your patrons are

complete idiots?

Managers often eschew normal English when it comes to announcing that they are raising tolls, resorting to a prissy evasive verbiage, all their own. 91-X is following standard industry practice when it calls a toll increase an “adjustment” or a “change.” Does the resort to euphemism really make the toll increase more palatable to patrons? Doesn’t it just risk sounding guilty?

Thomas Holder

91-X has generally got rave reviews for its customer service. But just as we go to press (4/20) the LOS ANGELES TIMES has published a scorcher about what it calls the Kafkaeqsue quagmire that left one of its patrons, Thomas Holder with $6,550 of unpaid bills and violation fines and threats to deny renewal of his car registration. The LA TIMES says the penalties ran up due to 91-X’s failure to provide a reliable toll transponder and to follow through on repeated assurances that the big debits in his account would be cleared. 91-X apparently couldn’t explain itself to the LA TIMES. We haven’t had time to check this out ourselves but it is BAD BAD publicity for 91-X, where it matters most, in the big hometown paper.