Contact
Marc Littman
Metro Media Relations
213.922.4609/213.922.2700
metro.net/press/pressroom
mediarelations@metro.net
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Live Chat w/Pam O’Connor noon Wednesday, Jan. 23
Metro Board Chair Welcomes Public to Chat with Her about Toll Roads on Metro.net
For her next live Internet chat, Metro Board Chair Pam O’Connor will talk about congestion reduction pricing, which includes toll roads, a hot topic that has generated considerable public debate. The Live Chat on metro.net will take place during the noon hour on Wednesday, Jan. 23, 2008. Sign on live to pose questions to the Board Chair at that time or e-mail advance questions by going to metro.net/chat.
Congestion reduction pricing is one approach to squeeze more capacity out of the L.A. region’s busy roadways by changing commuting behavior and also generating additional funds for more transit, vanpools and other rideshare options and to construct and operate additional highway lanes to increase mobility.
Congestion reduction pricing works by shifting some rush hour highway traffic to other transportation modes or to off-peak periods by charging for use of some roads during certain times of the day. It has worked successfully in London, Stockholm, Singapore, Minneapolis, San Diego, and Orange County.
Metro is applying for a federal grant to do a 12-month demonstration project that involves converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes to High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes along the I-110 Harbor Transitway, I-10 El Monte Busway, and I-210 from the I-605 to the I-710 as part of the first phase of a demonstration project that could be implemented within two years if the project is approved by the U.S. Department of Transportation.