![]() What used to be HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes are now “express lanes” and they charge us a fee for usage for most of us (except carpools of three or more and a few other exceptions). Their new Caltrans express system for Highway 101 and other major state routes was created, officials say, to better manage traffic congestion. But will it “reduce congestion all along U.S. On its way out is the notion that major highways should be freeways – because it seems the mental maneuvers of Caltrans is to create toll roads and get us to use public transit. Gone is the concept that our roads are for all, day and night. The traffic wizards and geniuses in our state have been at it again – this time in a big way that will affect highway motorists for years to come. It will encourage carpooling and transit ridership as well as the use of technology to help manage traffic," Toks Omishakin, Caltrans director, said in a video about the project. "The integration of managed express lanes will reduce congestion all along the U.S. I moved to Palo Alto in 1979, and have been involved in the community on several nonprofit boards. Born in a small community on Long Island, I attended Middlebury College, graduated from the University of Michigan, got married, had four boys in four years, and then started working. In the late 1990s, I sequentially wrote columns for all three local newspapers here in Palo Alto. ![]() I also worked for the State Bar of California as the first editor in chief of "California Lawyer" magazine, and then spent a decade at Stanford involved in public issues affecting the university. I then went to the San Jose Mercury as an editorial writer and columnist. I've been a journalist most of my life, first as a reporter and then managing editor of a Chicago newspaper, followed by a wonderful year at Stanford as a recipient of Knight Journalism Fellowship. My goal with this blog is to help the public better understand what really is happening, and more important, how residents living here may be affected by these local decisions. I know many residents care about this town, and I want to explore our collective interests to help do the right thing. In this blog I want to discuss all that with you. ![]() Please join me in telling Metro NO to FasTrak in Los Angeles.About this blog: So much is right - and wrong - about what is happening in Palo Alto. Changing their daily routines and routes and forcing people to pay even if they will never use the lanes under toll conditions is WRONG. People in Los Angeles have been using these FREEways for years with the dedicated HOV/carpool lanes. This will have a severe financial impact on families where one parent stays home to raise the child(ren) in lieu of an income. These "unknowing offenders" will be mailed violations up to $400 weeks or months later despite the fact that they were not required to pay a toll due to HOV status. This unfairly discriminates against drivers of children who travel as a carpool 100% of the time and thought that because they didn't have to pay that they didn't need to register for FasTrak. ![]() 6.Dedicated carpool transition lanes from different freeways can put you into ExpressLanes without warning, imposing violations and tolls on people who have not made a CHOICE to use these lanes There has been insufficient awareness of the need for transponders in EVERY vehicle. Instead they will be reading and trying to interpret signs and potentially making dangerous last minute lane changes to avoid tolls and/or violations. 5.The toll prices and rules regarding solo versus HOV-use change minute by minute and are a distraction to drivers who should be focusing on driving safely. If you do not use the ExpressLanes at least 4 times a month you will be charged an ADDITIONAL $3 per month for account maintenance. Did you know these FasTrak facts? 1.Even if you carpool you still need a transponder for your vehicle ($25 deposit) and will pre-pay $40 in tolls even if you will never use the lanes as a solo driver (The city just collects your money and sits on it.) 2.You need to set a button on your transponder to indicate the number of people in your vehicle each time you use the ExpressLanes 3.You are always required to have a minimum balance of PRE-PAID tolls on your account at all times 4.
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