Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, vice chairman of the Congestion
Management Agency: 'Oone more important step in relieving traffic congestion on
I-580,".


Published Saturday, November 19, 2005, in the Oakland Tribune

Single drivers will get carpool privilege
Change applies to HOV lane planned for I-580

By Mike White

Commuters, including those making the long trek home to Tracy and the
San Joaquin Valley, should get a little relief after transportation
officials decided single-occupancy vehicles will be able to use a
future carpool lane on Interstate 580 -- for a price.

The Alameda County Congestion Management Agency on Thursday approved
making the future carpool lane from Pleasanton to Livermore a HOT lane
as well.

A HOT lane means single-occupancy vehicles will be able to use the
lane for a fee.

The I-580 HOT lane would be one of two in the East Bay. The other is
planned for Interstate 680 over the Sunol Grade.

Construction of the eastbound I-580 commuter lane is planned for early
2007.

"This is one more important step in relieving traffic congestion on
I-580," said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, vice chairman
of the Congestion Management Agency. Haggerty's office announced the
news Friday through a statement.

In 2004, the state Legislature gave the CMA the authority to designate
the I-680 commuter lane southbound from Sunol to Milpitas as a HOT
lane. The Legislature also allowed the agency to select an additional
HOT lane of its own choosing.

After examining existing and planned carpool lanes on Interstates 80,
880, 680 and 580, the CMA board determined that I-580 in the Valley
would be the most promising for conversion, Haggerty's statement said.
The highway consistently scores in the top five "most congested
corridors" on Caltrans' annual report.

By designating the future I-580 carpool route as a HOT lane, crews
will be able to install special transponders along the road when they
build the lane. The transponders will deduct money from the driver's
FasTrak account in the same manner as on area bridges.

The I-580 lane will be paid for through a variety of funds, including
the recently approved federal transportation bill ($16 million), the
new bridge toll increase ($65 million) and Alameda County's Measure B
sales tax ($10 million).

Fees for the I-580 HOT lane have not been set. Studies for the I-680
HOT lane, which is further along in the planning process, are
considering a minimum of 25 cents during off-peak hours. The average
cost during the peak period could be upward of $4. This preliminary
fee would apply to the entire 14-mile section; if drivers travel on
only a portion of the HOT lane, they would be charged accordingly.

The planned HOT lane could be a relief for south San Joaquin County
residents, who, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, have the third
longest commute time in the nation.

In Tracy and Manteca, about 71 percent of residents work outside the
city, according to a past study by the San Joaquin Council of
Governments. The study found that 78 percent of San Joaquin commuters
drive alone in their cars, with the majority traveling to East Bay and
South Bay destinations.

"(I-580) is intended for regional traffic, not just Alameda County
residents, but right now there is no mechanism to get transportation
funding from east of us," said Dawn Argula, deputy chief of staff for
Haggerty's office. "With the HOT lane, they will be paying something
to use the road."