Name | 91 Express Lanes |
Location | Orange County, California |
Mode | Toll Highway |
Description | Four-lane toll facility in the median of a 16 km section of the 91 Riverside Freeway, one of the U.S.’ most heavily congested highways.Privately-owned and operated
The first fully automated toll road in the world, and first variably-priced toll road in the United States As of November 2001, tolls on the Express Lanes varied between $1.00 and $4.75, reflecting the level of congestion delay avoided in the adjacent non-tolled freeway lanes Requires use of electronic transponder. HOVs pay a reduced (currently 50%) toll. |
Sponsor | CalTrans Orange County Transportation Authority |
Cost | $130 million |
Type of Finance | $65 million in 14-year variable rate bank loans $35 million in longer term loans (24 years) $20 million private equity $ 9 million subordinated debt to OCTA to purchase previously-completed engineering and environmental work |
Revenue Sources | Variable Rate Tolls |
Project Delivery / Contract Method | BTO 35-year franchise agreement between California Private Transportation Company and the State of California. |
Private Investor Partner | California Private Transportation Company (CPTC) Level 3 Communications, Inc. Cofiroute Corporation Granite Construction, Inc. |
Project Advisors | |
Lenders | $65 million in 14-year variable rate bank loans:
$35 million in longer term loans (24 years):
|
Physical Status | Opened in December 1995 |
Financial Status | OCTA voted to purchase the toll road from CPTC in April 2002. |
Innovations | First privately-financed toll road in the U.S. in the last 50 years.
The first fully automated toll road in the world, and the first variably-priced (value pricing) toll road in the United States. Transportation officials in the U.S. and other countries are watching this project closely to gain insights into project financing, value pricing, toll operations and customer services. Lanes are generating important information about traffic and travel behavior responses to variable tolling. |
Related Links / Articles | California’s Riverside Orange Counties Agree on How to Handle Toll Road, The Business Press, 4/29/02 http://www.91expresslanes.com California’s 91 Express Lanes Toll to Rise for 4th Time Since Road Opened by Megan Garvey (01/19/99) 91 Express Lanes Finally Out of Red by H. G. Reza (08/06/98) Paying the Toll for Traffic Congestion by Ken Reich (07/16/98) Barrage of Erroneous Tickets Takes Toll on SR 91 Commuter by David Haldane (04/22/98) Tolls Raised for 4th Time on 91 Express Lanes by David Haldane (04/04/98) She Feels Wronged After Expressing Her Mistake by David Haldane (02/09/98) Deficit, Fewer Clients Don’t Dull 91 Operators’ Pride by Frank Messina (05/02/97) Thinking on Tolls Turns a Corner; County’s experience holds lessons for the rest of the state (04/06/97) Owners Say California’s Privately Run Toll Road Success Forces Price Hike by Gray Scott (12/26/96) 91 Express Lanes Transponder Distribution Ahead of Schedule (06/96) California Gets World’s First Space-Age Toll Road by Michael Miller (12/06/95) |
Contacts | Greg Hulsizer General Manager California Private Transportation Company 91 Express Lanes 180 N. Riverview Drive, Suite 290 Anaheim, CA 92808 Tel:(714) 637-9191 x328 Fax:(714) 637-9266 ghulsizer@91expresslanes.com |
Last Review/Update | California Private Transportation Company, May 2002 |