DOT Offers L.A. $213 Million in Toll Plan

The federal government has offered Los Angeles County $213 million to convert carpool lanes to special, congestion-pricing toll lanes on three freeways, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The federal funding, however, would come to L.A. County only if local and state transportation officials agreed to the changes, which are highly controversial in the region, where most motorists expect “free” freeways, the paper reported.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters said in a statement that the new federal funding would provide the leverage local leaders need to convert up to 85 miles of local high-occupancy vehicle lanes into high-occupancy toll, or HOT, lanes by the end of 2010.

The freeways involved first would be short stretches of Interstates 10 and 210 in the San Gabriel Valley, and then, if any money remained, part of the 110 south of downtown Los Angeles, the Times said.

A similar congestion-fee plan that would have also gained federal funding support in New York City was ultimately rejected by New York state lawmakers.