A Quick Look at the I-580 Express Lanes

Where

The new I-580 Express Lanes will be located on a 12-mile eastbound stretch of Interstate 580 from just west of the Hacienda Drive interchange in Pleasanton to just east of the Greenville Road undercrossing in Livermore.

What

The I-580 Express Lanes give solo drivers the choice to pay a toll electronically to use the lane while regular carpool users continue to use the lane for free. The new I-580 Express Lanes will have special striping, three specific entry and exit points, overhead electronic signs and a FasTrak® electronic toll collection system. The Express Lanes will be separated from general-purpose lanes by triple yellow lines plus a white line, except at entry and exit points.

Choice for Drivers

Solo drivers who want a more reliable trip on eastbound I-580 will need to obtain and mount a FasTrak® toll tag on their windshields. They will be charged a toll each time they choose to use the Express Lane. Carpool vehicles with two or more people, motorcycles, transit buses and eligible hybrids will be able to use the lane for free and will not be required to have a toll tag.

The operation will be fully electronic. There will not be any tollbooths or traffic gates, so customers will not need to slow down or stop to pay the toll. The toll amount will be deducted automatically from a solo driver’s FasTrak® account.

Pricing

Motorists with a FasTrak® toll tag can enter the Express Lane at three designated places. An overhead electronic sign will display the current toll being assessed. Toll costs will vary based on real-time traffic levels in the Express Lane to ensure traffic in the lane continues to flow.

This process is called dynamic pricing. During peak periods, when there is more traffic in the Express Lane, the toll will be higher. During off-peak periods, when fewer vehicles are using the lane, the toll will be lower. By changing the toll in response to the level of demand, the Express Lane traffic will keep flowing smoothly. Dynamic pricing has been used successfully in various places across the country, including San Diego, CA, and Minneapolis, MN.

Revenue

Toll revenue will pay for operating and maintaining the lane, for transit service on the I-680 corridor and for building other Express Lanes in the I-580 corridor, including a future project on westbound I-580.

Enforcement

A solo driver without a valid FasTrak® toll tag will be in violation of state law and subject to a fine. Law enforcement officers will patrol the lane and use visual and electronic means to catch violators.

When

The eastbound HOV lane was completed in 2010; the project schedule calls for the I-580 Express Lanes to open in 2013.