LA Gets Serious About Sepulveda Pass Toll Lanes

LOS ANGELES, CA — The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's Board of Directors agreed Thursday to fund a study on the possibility of implementing tolls on the San Diego (405) Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass.

The proposed toll lanes would be on 405 Freeway between the Santa Monica (10) and Ventura (101) freeways, with authorities intending to opening them prior to the 2028 Summer Olympics.

The Metro board approved a three-year, $27 million contract for architectural and engineering services on the proposed I-405 Phase 1 Sepulveda Pass ExpressLanes. The contractor will study the feasibility of the lanes, the potential cost of the tolls and whether toll lanes could be operated in existing carpool lanes or if additional lanes could be added.

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The Los Angeles Times reported that the per-mile price for existing toll lanes on the 10 Freeway and the Harbor (110) Freeway, which Metro has raised seven times since 2012, is now capped at $2.10. On Metro's existing toll lanes, vehicles with multiple occupants can travel for free as long as they have a transponder.

Metro is also studying options for a rail line or monorail line through the Sepulveda Pass to help relieve traffic in the notoriously congested corridor. The freeway stretch underwent a $1.6 billion expansion project that added a carpool lane in both directions, while also making overpass and other improvements.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.