The 110 Freeway earlier this month. (Getty Images)
Southern California transportation officials continue to move at dangerous speeds, planning more toll lanes before the region has figured out if the ones we have will work.The latest development is the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority's proposal to build a combination of toll and carpool lanes along 13 1/2 miles of the 5 Freeway between Santa Clarita and Castaic as early as 2018.
This news comes, as the Metro ExpressLanes continue to be tested along the 110 Freeway south of downtown L.A., as another toll system gets ready to open Saturday on the 10 Freeway between L.A. and El Monte, and as San Bernardino officials consider a project on the 10 Freeway between the L.A. county line and Redlands.
Metro officials will hold public hearings on the Santa Clarita idea Feb. 26 at the City of Santa Clarita Sports Complex, and Feb. 28, at Rancho Pico Junior High School in Stephenson Ranch, both at 6 p.m.
The public should deliver the message to slow down -- as this space said when the San Bernardino proposal was announced.
All of these toll lanes may be an
effective way to reduce congestion on Southern California freeways, but this is a new concept for most of the region's residents and the effects are uncertain. If it will take, say, a year to gauge the impact of the 110 Freeway ExpressLanes, then officials should take that time before moving on to new projects.This will allow them to consider other ideas to make life easier for commuters, such as the one being proposed by Assemblyman Mike Gatto of Burbank. Gatto's appropriately numbered Assembly Bill 405 would create a pilot program to open carpool lanes to solo drivers during non-peak-traffic hours.
By all means, let's improve the Southern California freeways -- but be sure to get it right.
-- Opinion staff
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