I-680 Express Lane Marks First Anniversary With Record Use

The Interstate 680 Express Lane celebrates its first anniversary today (Tuesday, September 20, 2011), with weekly usage reaching a new high and almost a half million drivers to date paying a toll electronically for a faster trip over the Sunol Grade.

Transportation officials are pleased with the results so far. "Usage is rising. More drivers each month are choosing to use the Express Lane to avoid traffic congestion," said Alameda County Supervisor Scott Haggerty, chair of the I-680 Express Lane Authority Board of Directors and an MTC commissioner. "Hundreds of commuters use this facility every day. The facility provides a reliable option for commuters who need the dependability in their travel times through the corridor."

The 14-mile stretch of I-680 from Pleasanton to Milpitas is the first Express Lane in Northern California. Carpools/vanpools (with two or more passengers) can use the lane free of charge during hours of operation, while solo drivers pay a toll for the convenience of bypassing traffic.

"The results show Express Lanes are an effective way to ensure there is an option for commuters who want a reliable commute," said Andrew Fremier, deputy executive director of operations for MTC/BATA . "The experience gained from the first year of operations on 680 allowed us to develop a realistic long-term strategy for establishing a true regional network of Express Lanes in the years to come."

The I-680 Express Lane opened at 5 a.m. on September 20, 2010. After the Thanksgiving-Christmas holidays, usage by paying drivers was stable from January to May at about 1,400 toll trips per day, almost all during the morning commute from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. This average rose to 1,500 per day in June and July of this past summer, to 1,600 per day in August and to more than 1,700 per day so far in September. The peak weekly usage to date came last week, with 9,757 toll trips and $29,321 in revenue. The one-day peak usage was February 8, 2011, when 2,324 toll-paying drivers used the lane.

In all, there were 482,552 toll trips on the Express Lane during the first year of operation, generating revenue of $858,328. Express Lane speeds are 9 or 10 mph faster than the speeds in the general purpose lanes during the morning commute. Most drivers use the Express Lane an average of twice a month, with fewer than 200 using the lane three or more days per week.

The Express Lane operates Monday to Friday from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. At nights and on weekends, the lane is open to all drivers. Solo drivers who want to use the I-680 Express Lane need a FasTrak® toll tag mounted on their windshield. Drivers are charged a toll each time they choose to use the Express Lane. The operation is fully electronic, with no tollbooths or tollgates, so customers do not need to slow down or stop to pay.

Motorists with a FasTrak toll tag can enter the Express Lane at designated places. An overhead electronic sign displays the current toll being assessed. Toll costs vary based on real-time traffic levels on the Express Lane to ensure that traffic in the lane flows smoothly.

More information about the Express Lane and how to sign up for FasTrak is available online at www.680expresslane.org and at www.bayareafastrak.org.