SJ Hills to get differential tolls

TCA CEO Walter Kreutzen says that the agency will later this year produce a detailed plan for differential toll rates for implementation on the San Joaquin Hills toll road (SJHTR) with a view to implementation July 1, 2001. Weekday traffic on the hilly 6-lane pike is 75k veh/day and there is occasional peak hour congestion already. Value pricing with a small peak-hour premium has already been decided for the sister Foothill & Eastern toll road to start July 1, 2001. There the idea is to have a peak hour premium toll rate, a quarter at first but increasing every year or so, to encourage a certain amount of traffic to move out of the peak times to maintain free flowing traffic, as well as to garner maximum revenue.

The San Joaquin Hills TCA voted to raise tolls by a quarter July 10 at its 10 ramp plazas (5 ICs) to raise an estimated extra $2.9m/yr. The toll at the main barrier plaza (Catalina View) remains at $2.25. The SJHTR revenue is below the levels hoped for in its bond financings. The TCA has paid off some of its debt and is building a reserve fund to ensure the bond covenant debt service coverage of 1.3 is maintained.