los angeles

Atkinson Construction got their notice-to-proceed from Los Angeles Metro in January on detailed design of a toll Express Lanes project on the I-10 and the I-110 - two of the busiest highways in the LA metro area. Actual construction is due to begin mid-year for an opening of 25 miles, 41km of 2x2 toll lanes late 2012.

ACS, A Xerox Company, to Keep Los Angeles Drivers Moving with Electronic Toll Collection for New Express Lanes

You heard that the state of California has budgetary problems? Furgeddit. They've got oodles of millions of taxpayer money to splurge, and no need for any assured revenue stream for maintenance and operations.

California's legislators left it right up until the deadline but when they finally voted it was with clear majorities to go with tolling on the busiest carpool lanes in the LA area. They get around $210m of federal funds originally reserved for New York City central area pricing. To be tolled under the plan are carpool lanes in the center of the I-10 and the I-110.

New York's loss in rejecting congestion pricing is Los Angeles potential gain. $213.6m of federal transit funds previously set aside New York City is now committed to supporting an ambitious variable tolls project on HOV lanes on some of the busiest freeways in the Los Angeles (LA) area.

LA PLANS

220km truck pikes —$6.3b investment wanted