High-occupancy toll lanes.

Existing law authorizes a regional transportation agency, in cooperation with the Department of Transportation, to apply to the California Transportation Commission to develop and operate high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes, including administration and operation of a value-pricing program and exclusive or preferential lane facilities for public transit. Existing law specifically authorizes a value-pricing and transit development demonstration program involving HOT lanes to be conducted, administered, developed, and operated on State Highway Routes 10 and 110 in Los Angeles County by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (LACMTA) under certain conditions. This bill would require the LACMTA program to be implemented with the active participation of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. The bill would require LACMTA, with the consent of the department, to establish appropriate performance measures for the purpose of ensuring optimal use of the HOT lanes without adversely affecting other traffic on the state highway system. The bill would also state that the authorization for this project shall not prevent the construction of competing facilities, and that LACMTA is not entitled to compensation for the adverse effects on toll revenue due to those facilities.