
There's a $3 monthly account fee starting when the 10 HOT lanes open it'll be automatically waived after four one-way trips per month. You can't use your existing FasTrak toll lane transponder for the HOT lanes, only a Metro ExpressLanes switchable transponder. Transponders require a $40 start-up balance, which will be credited to future tolls (there are discounts available for low-income families). At first, electric vehicles will have to use the transponders like everyone else, but "the Governor recently signed a law that will allow toll-free access for white and green sticker vehicles to the Metro ExpressLanes after March 1, 2014," according to a live chat with Metro.

110 FREEWAY EXPRESS LANE RULES DRIVERS
Absolutely everyone who wants to use the ExpressLanes will need a transponder, but only solo drivers will be charged (if you sometimes drive solo and sometimes carpool, you'll switch the transponder to show how many people are in your car). Caltrans will add a second carpool lane in each direction for nine of those miles. The 10 project will open in January or February 2013 and stretch for 14 miles from the 605 to Alameda Street Downtown. The 110 project runs from the Artesia Transit Center to Adams Boulevard. The whole system's a little complicated, so here's everything you might possibly want to know: The idea is to shuffle traffic around to keep cars in both the carpool and regular lanes moving at a faster pace.


This is a pilot program that will expand to the 10 in the San Gabriel Valley in early 2013. What the hell does that mean? All drivers who want to use the lanes will need a FasTrak transponder-drivers will switch the transponder to reflect the number of people in their car and then they'll be able to use the HOT lanes for a variable fee based on the amount of traffic at the time. This Saturday, November 10, Metro will launch its ExpressLanes program on the 110-it'll change 11 miles of carpool lanes into high-occupancy toll (aka HOT) lanes with congestion pricing for solo drivers.
