Express lane coming to a freeway near you

cal scott

cal scott

Wookie
Caltrans is in the process of converting ALL of the carpool lanes on my commute (101 from RWC to Sunnyvale and 237) to toll based Fastrak Express Lanes. In researching their use, I have yet to be able to find answers to the following questions:

  1. Fastrak Flex transponder requirement - it is clear that high occupancy cars require the new transponder to alert the system that they should not be charged. Since motorcycles aren't charged irrespective of the number of passengers, does having the transponder remain a requirement?
  2. Lane splitting on restricted double white lines - some sections can have double white lines that cars cannot cross. Can motorcycles get ticketed for riding on or crossing these lines when splitting?

I am hoping that some of you out in the East Bay where these lanes have already been installed may be able to shed some answers to these questions. This appears to be a major initiative over the coming years with the quoted goal on 511 SF Bay website:

"In all, the Bay Area has plans for 600 miles of express lanes by 2035".​

Can't say I'm particularly thrilled by the direction the transportation authority is taking our infrastructure. :x
 
Squidly McSmearstain

Squidly McSmearstain

Well-known member
I had to call Fastrak for some various issues and specifically asked about the need for a transponder in the Fastrak Express lanes. She said I was required to have a transponder. On the motorcycle keep the passenger selection switch on "3" at all times.
 
matjam

matjam

Crusty old UNIX engineer
So fucking stupid. They should be converted to bus only lanes, and allow motorcycles, and run proper regular commuter buses to provide an alternative to BART.
 
cheez

cheez

Master Of The Darkside
Motorcycles are always considered high occupancy vehicles in CVC, so no transponder is required by law. I don't run one on any of my bikes and never get tolled in the 580/680 Flex lanes.
 
EastBayDave

EastBayDave

- Kawasaki Fanatic -
cheez said:
Motorcycles are always considered high occupancy vehicles in CVC, so no transponder is required by law. I don't run one on any of my bikes and never get tolled in the 580/680 Flex lanes.
Click to expand...
agreed. As little as I ride I'll never buy one of them Fastrak thingies...
 
Lorry

Lorry

Well-known member
Tin foil hat moment: I assume that the push to make all these changes is sponsored by the company that makes the transponders?
 
SFSV650

SFSV650

The Slowest Sprotbike™
The transponders have passenger selection switches?
I've had mine for ages but it's just a dumb box that, somehow, still beeps. Do I need to trade it in or anything?
 
M

maidenfan84

Well-known member
This is a great thread and raises a question from me..on a motorcycle, do we have to pay to use the fast trak or do we get a exempt from it? Still new to this toll/car pool lane stuff
 
HeatXfer

HeatXfer

Not Erudite, just er
SFSV650 said:
The transponders have passenger selection switches?
I've had mine for ages but it's just a dumb box that, somehow, still beeps. Do I need to trade it in or anything?
Click to expand...

“The standard FasTrak toll tag works at all Bay Area toll bridges, in express lanes for solo drivers, and pays SFO parking.”

“The FasTrak Flex toll tag works as a standard FasTrak toll tag but also has a three-position switch to signal whether you are travelling as a carpool or alone. It is the carpool toll tag for all Bay Area Express Lanes.”

https://www.bayareafastrak.org/en/guide/doINeedFlex.shtml
 
Lowerside

Lowerside

Well-known member
The old transponders were just simple chonky bricks. The newer thinner ones have a switch that lets you say how many people are inside a vehicle.
 
L

LongGoneJohn

Gone
Just another way to charge money to use a road we already paid for, increased our taxes to "fix" and still had it restrictedto use during certain times. Now you get to pay for it again to use it even during that times. If bikes don't count now, they will soon enough.
 
cal scott

cal scott

Wookie
Looks like two similar threads (this and "Fastrak BS") were posted at the same time. Based upon the collective responses, it looks like a majority ride the Express Lanes without a Fastrak transponder without any issues. As with a car, if you are carrying a transponder, it has to be the Fastrak Flex set to 3 passengers. Thanks to everyone for sharing that info :thumbup.
 
cheez

cheez

Master Of The Darkside
nebulous said:
Fastrack Express Lane = California Toll Extortion Lane = 2 Tier Bourgeoisie Lane
Click to expand...

In Dallas, they reworked I-635 and a couple of other freeways to have "express lanes" that are not carpool at all- you pay to use them, and the police tend to stay out of them. It kinda reminded me of driving on Lower Wacker Drive in Chicago, except at near triple digit speeds. https://www.lbjtexpress.com/ The idea is that the company that owns the express lanes pays for some of the renovations and then gets to keep the toll money for some long interval. That way, tax levies/bonds aren't required to build new roads, but if you can't afford to pay for the express lanes, good luck.

The future looks awfully bougie to me as well.
 
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