I-405 Improvement Project is 95% complete; new express lanes coming

TRANSPORTATION

On July 24, the Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors approved the toll policy for the 405 Express Lanes, which is being built as part of the I-405 Improvement Project.

OCTA broke ground on the I-405 Improvement Project in 2018 to improve travel times along one of the busiest highways in the nation. The 405 Express Lanes, and all other improvements being made as part of the project, are scheduled to open to traffic in late 2023.

The 405 Express Lanes—between SR-73 in Costa Mesa and I-605 at the Orange County Line —will give options to carpoolers to travel for free and solo drivers the choice to speed up their commute for a toll. Drivers on average will pay about $3 to travel the entire 14-mile lane; the maximum toll rate will be $9.95 from 3-5 p.m. on Fridays if traveling from SR-73 north to the county line.

Vehicles with three or more people, along with motorcycles and vehicles with designated veterans license plates or disabled person license plates, will always get to travel on the 405 Express Lanes for free.

Solo drivers—and twoperson carpools during peak hours—will have the option to pay a toll to use the express lanes.

All vehicles will be required to have a switchable FasTrak transponder, which can be used on any toll facility in California.

Tolls will vary by hour, day of the week, direction of travel and distance traveled, and will be adjusted regularly to ensure a free-flowing commute. Drivers can enter or exit the facility from I-405, SR-73, SR-22 and I-605, as well as at Magnolia Street/Warner Avenue and Bolsa Avenue/ Goldenwest Street.

For more information about tolls or the 405 Express Lanes, visit 405ExpressLanes.com.

The $2.1 billion I-405 Improvement Project, now 95% complete, helps to fulfill promises made to voters of Measure M—Orange County’s half-cent sales tax for transportation improvements.

The I-405 in northwest Orange County is used by more than 370,000 vehicles a day. Drivers routinely face severe congestion in both the regular lanes and the carpool lanes.

In addition to the 405 Express Lanes, the I-405 Improvement Project will add one regular lane in each direction of I-405 between Euclid Street in Fountain Valley and I-605 in Seal Beach.

The project also includes improvements to local streets and freeway on- and off-ramps, as well as new sidewalks and bike lanes throughout the nine cities adjacent to the project.

The I-405 Improvement Project is financed with a combination of local, state and federal funds, with the majority of funding from Measure M.

The express lanes portion of the project is being funded by a federal Transportation Infrastructure and Innovation Act loan. The loan will be repaid solely by drivers who choose to pay a toll.

For more information about the I-405 Improvement Project, visit octa.net/405improvement.