FHWA Administrator Victor Mendez Joins Los Angeles Mayor for the Opening of New Express Lanes on the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway |
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Topics: Victor Mendez, Interstate Highway System
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Federal Highway Administration
22 February 2013
FHWA 08-13
Friday, February 22, 2013
Contact: Nancy Singer
Tel: 202-366-0660
LOS ANGELES - The Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez today joined Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and other officials for the opening of Metro ExpressLanes on the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway, which are expected to reduce traffic congestion and provide drivers with more travel options.
"Reducing congestion through the new ExpressLanes on the San Bernardino Freeway will benefit area companies and commuters alike," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. "President Obama said in his State of the Union address last week that we should both Fix it First and make sure our infrastructure attracts and supports businesses and families that rely on them, as we are doing today with these new lanes."
The U.S. Department of Transportation provided the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority $210 million toward the total project cost of $290 million for improvements on I-10 and I-110.
Improvements included converting 14 miles of High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes on the I-10 San Bernardino Freeway into High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, or express lanes, allowing solo drivers between Union Station/Alameda Street and the I-605 Freeway to use the lanes for a fee.
The funds were also used to convert 11 miles of HOV lanes along the I-110 Harbor Freeway to express lanes, which opened in November 2012.
"These express lanes created jobs and brought an innovative solution to a very congested area of Los Angeles," said Administrator Mendez. "When our highways work better, we have a better chance of attracting businesses and jobs."
These lanes will give everyone on the freeway more reliable travel times. Carpools, vanpools, and motorcycles will continue to travel toll free. The general purpose lanes will not be tolled, but all drivers will benefit when solo drivers travel on the Express lanes because it means less traffic will be redistributed across the other lanes of the highway.