Metro ExpressLanes/FasTrak Los Angeles: Remove FasTrak from existing HOV lanes on the 110 and 10 and keep them for HOV only

Metro ExpressLanes/FasTrak Los Angeles: Remove FasTrak from existing HOV lanes on the 110 and 10 and keep them for HOV only

The Issue

Did you know these FasTrak facts?
1.Even if you carpool you still need a transponder for your vehicle ($25 deposit) and will pre-pay $40 in tolls even if you will never use the lanes as a solo driver (The city just collects your money and sits on it.)
2.You need to set a button on your transponder to indicate the number of people in your vehicle each time you use the ExpressLanes
3.You are always required to have a minimum balance of PRE-PAID tolls on your account at all times
4. If you do not use the ExpressLanes at least 4 times a month you will be charged an ADDITIONAL $3 per month for account maintenance.
5.The toll prices and rules regarding solo versus HOV-use change minute by minute and are a distraction to drivers who should be focusing on driving safely. Instead they will be reading and trying to interpret signs and potentially making dangerous last minute lane changes to avoid tolls and/or violations.
6.Dedicated carpool transition lanes from different freeways can put you into ExpressLanes without warning, imposing violations and tolls on people who have not made a CHOICE to use these lanes
There has been insufficient awareness of the need for transponders in EVERY vehicle. This unfairly discriminates against drivers of children who travel as a carpool 100% of the time and thought that because they didn't have to pay that they didn't need to register for FasTrak. These "unknowing offenders" will be mailed violations up to $400 weeks or months later despite the fact that they were not required to pay a toll due to HOV status. This will have a severe financial impact on families where one parent stays home to raise the child(ren) in lieu of an income. People in Los Angeles have been using these FREEways for years with the dedicated HOV/carpool lanes. Changing their daily routines and routes and forcing people to pay even if they will never use the lanes under toll conditions is WRONG.
Please join me in telling Metro NO to FasTrak in Los Angeles.

avatar of the starter
Adriana JakobsenPetition Starter
Media inquiries
This petition had 222 supporters

The Issue

Did you know these FasTrak facts?
1.Even if you carpool you still need a transponder for your vehicle ($25 deposit) and will pre-pay $40 in tolls even if you will never use the lanes as a solo driver (The city just collects your money and sits on it.)
2.You need to set a button on your transponder to indicate the number of people in your vehicle each time you use the ExpressLanes
3.You are always required to have a minimum balance of PRE-PAID tolls on your account at all times
4. If you do not use the ExpressLanes at least 4 times a month you will be charged an ADDITIONAL $3 per month for account maintenance.
5.The toll prices and rules regarding solo versus HOV-use change minute by minute and are a distraction to drivers who should be focusing on driving safely. Instead they will be reading and trying to interpret signs and potentially making dangerous last minute lane changes to avoid tolls and/or violations.
6.Dedicated carpool transition lanes from different freeways can put you into ExpressLanes without warning, imposing violations and tolls on people who have not made a CHOICE to use these lanes
There has been insufficient awareness of the need for transponders in EVERY vehicle. This unfairly discriminates against drivers of children who travel as a carpool 100% of the time and thought that because they didn't have to pay that they didn't need to register for FasTrak. These "unknowing offenders" will be mailed violations up to $400 weeks or months later despite the fact that they were not required to pay a toll due to HOV status. This will have a severe financial impact on families where one parent stays home to raise the child(ren) in lieu of an income. People in Los Angeles have been using these FREEways for years with the dedicated HOV/carpool lanes. Changing their daily routines and routes and forcing people to pay even if they will never use the lanes under toll conditions is WRONG.
Please join me in telling Metro NO to FasTrak in Los Angeles.

avatar of the starter
Adriana JakobsenPetition Starter
Media inquiries

The Decision Makers

Metro ExpressLanes/FasTrak Los Angeles
Metro ExpressLanes/FasTrak Los Angeles
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
Responded
“Thank you for notifying us of your petition regarding the Metro ExpressLanes Program. This is a new one year pilot program where we expect to reduce congestion by moving more people -- not more cars. The objective of moving more people into the ExpressLanes = fewer people in the general purpose lanes = better traffic flow and reduced greenhouse gas emissions and air pollutants for everyone. We would like to clarify a few concerns that you have raised in the petition: 1. When you set up your FasTrak account with a credit card, the pre-paid amount to open the account is $40. The transponder deposit ($25) is waived. Should you choose use the lanes as a toll-paying customer the toll would be deducted from the $40 pre-paid toll balance. Any remaining toll balance will be refunded to you when your account is closed in good standing. So the money you use to set up your account is actually yours to spend on tolls and whatever you don’t use will be refunded to you when your close your account. 2. Carpools need the FasTrak because the toll system needs a mechanism to distinguish when to charge a toll and when not to charge a toll. The FasTrak also helps with enforcement. The FasTrak transponder will also enable carpoolers and vanpoolers to benefit from the Carpool Loyalty Program. The video link below provides a quick overview of the new Carpool Loyalty Program for the ExpressLanes: (http://youtu.be/fz9BJACR7yE) 3. A minimum balance is not a requirement, however it is recommended to avoid an account developing a negative balance. When a customer opens their account, they authorize Metro to replenish their account each time the balance falls below $10 or 25% of the average monthly usage. The replenishment amount is not a fee. It serves as pre-paid tolls. The FasTrak can be used to pay a toll on all toll facilities in California so it is important that a positive toll balance be maintained to avoid any negative balance fees. 4. While there is a $3 monthly maintenance fee, we expect that most users will not be charged the fee. The fee is waived after four one-way trips, so two round trips waive the monthly fee. Those four one-way trips can be any combination of carpool, driving alone, vanpool, motorcycle, or on transit. And the $3 monthly fee is automatically waived for Equity Plan accounts. The purpose of the fee is to cover costs associated with maintaining the account. It also serves to help encourage people to try transit or carpool more frequently because the type of congestion we are tackling is daily and the encouragement of frequent use in the Express Lane is more effective in reducing congestion and air pollutants. 5. Metro ExpressLanes uses congestion pricing to keep the traffic flowing smoothly. The toll amount changes in response to the level of demand; as congestion increases, the price increases and as congestion decreases, the price decreases. Prior to each ExpressLanes entrance, the signage states that FasTrak is needed to enter the lanes providing drivers with sufficient time to decide whether or not they want to enter. Click on the video below for more info on congestion pricing. Congestion pricing: (http://youtu.be/_fFk2wH-HAc) 6. The direct connector from the 105 carpool lanes to the 110 ExpressLanes includes all legal signage to ensure motorists can make an informed decision to travel in the ExpressLanes. The carpool definitions do not change for the ExpressLanes. Vehicles with two or more occupants will be able to use the Metro ExpressLanes toll-free with FasTrak. Single occupant vehicles now have the option to use Metro ExpressLanes for a toll. We realize that it will take time for the public to understand that FasTrak is needed to travel in the ExpressLanes. A grace period is in place where no penalties apply if vehicles are detected in the ExpressLanes without a transponder. However, at such time when penalties are enforced, the penalties range from $25 - $30; not $401. The fine of $401 is only issued by CHP and only in the instance where an occupancy violation occurs by a solo driver. Finally, Metro and Caltrans must jointly report back to the Legislature by December 2014 on the performance of the pilot projects. ”

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Petition created on December 1, 2012