Set to begin construction in 2018, the project will deliver one regular lane in each direction and express lanes
ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority Board of Directors will maintain local control of the I-405 Improvement Project after voting today to take the lead on implementing both the general-purpose lane promised in Measure M and the express lanes, which will speed up travel for everyone in the corridor.
The $1.7 billion project will improve the San Diego (I-405) Freeway between Costa Mesa and the Los Angeles county line, an area traveled by more than 370,000 vehicles a day, making it the busiest stretch of highway in the nation.
The board’s vote means that OCTA will take the lead on implementing the 405 Express Lanes project between SR-73 and I-605 in addition to adding one general-purpose lane in each direction from Euclid Street to I-605.
In coming months, OCTA staff will return to the board with a draft 405 Express Lanes toll policy, a financing plan, and a traffic and revenue study will be performed to help determine how the 405 Express Lanes will operate. In addition, the board’s action will result in any excess toll revenue remaining in the 405 corridor to be spent on local transportation improvement projects.
The Measure M project, being constructed in cooperation with Caltrans, will be funded by a combination of local, state and federal funds, with the toll lane portion of the project financed and paid for by those who choose to pay a toll and use the 405 Express Lanes.
The 405 Express Lanes will be two lanes in each direction and the intent is that carpools of two or more will remain free for a minimum of three years, pending the results of a comprehensive traffic and revenue study.
Adding the 405 Express Lanes benefits all people who use the I-405. In 2040, it’s expected to take 29 minutes to travel during rush hour from SR-73 to I-605 in the general-purpose lanes. That commute can be reduced to 13 minutes if a driver chooses to take the Express Lanes. Without the Express Lanes, the commute in the general-purpose lanes would nearly double and take almost an hour to travel the same stretch.
The project will be built utilizing the design-build delivery model, saving time and money. It is expected to begin construction in 2018 and be completed in 2022.
For more information, visit www.octa.net/405improvement.
