New tolled express lanes opened Dec. 1, 2023, along with a new regular lane in each direction, helping everyone who travels through one of the nation’s most traveled corridors
ORANGE – The 405 Express Lanes, open for four full months, is helping tens of thousands of drivers every day speed up their commutes and spend more time with friends and family – instead of in traffic – with a reliable time-saving option for traveling through one of the nation’s busiest stretches of highway.
In its first four months of operation, the 405 Express Lanes recorded 4.8 million trips, consistent with the revenue projections for the lanes that are being paid for with tolls collected.
The 405 Express Lanes opened Dec. 1, 2023, as part of a $2.1 billion improvement project that also included a regular lane in each direction on I-405 between Costa Mesa and the border with Los Angeles County. The project also included 18 new bridges, on- and off-ramps and new sidewalks and bike lanes, improving access to and from communities neighboring the 405.
“It’s fantastic to see that so many people have discovered the convenience of the new 405 Express Lanes so that they can more easily explore all that makes Orange County such a special place to live and spend more quality time with children, with grandparents or other loved ones,” said OCTA Chair Tam T. Nguyen. “For those who haven’t tried it yet, we encourage you to learn more and try out this innovative transportation option.
“It means less traffic congestion and less stress,” Nguyen added. “‘Less driving and more living!’ is our slogan and it’s true.”
How to use the 405 Express Lanes:
- If you have an existing FasTrak transponder and active account from any toll agency in California, you can drive in the 405 Express Lanes.
- If you need a transponder, you can open an account by going to the 405 Express Lanes website, by phone, by mail or at the walk-in centers in Costa Mesa and Orange. More information is available online at www.405ExpressLanes.com.
The 14-mile 405 Express Lanes includes two lanes in each direction at the center of I-405 between SR-73 in Costa Mesa and I-605 at the Los Angeles County border, traveling through six Orange County cities.
There are several entrance and exit points along the entire route, allowing access to and from local neighborhoods and to many popular shopping, cultural, employment and educational destinations.
Through the end of March, more than 6,000 405 Express Lanes accounts were opened, with an average of about 200 accounts still being added weekly.
With the opening on the first day of December 2023, use of the 405 Express Lanes grew sharply and then slowed during the holiday period. Revenue from tolls collected and fees grew to $1.2 million by the end of December, and March proved to be the highest revenue month with $2.5 million collected, which will pay for the cost of building the lanes without using any taxpayer money.
The majority of transactions have been from single-occupant vehicles, and the heaviest traveled section of the 405 Express Lanes is between I-605 and SR-22 – one of the most traveled areas nationwide. As the 405 Express Lanes evolve, OCTA will routinely monitor usage and make adjustments to operations as necessary to continue free flow travel and for meeting the needs of travelers across the region.
For more information or to sign up for an account, visit www.405ExpressLanes.com.
