Metro - File #: 2022-0799

• File #: 2022-0799
• Type: Program
• Status: Agenda Ready
• File created: 11/17/2022
• In control: Executive Management Committee
• On agenda: 4/20/2023
• Title: CONSIDER: A. RECEIVING AND FILING the ExpressLanes Pay-As-You-Go Pilot evaluation methodology and findings; B. AUTHORIZING the Pay-As-You-Go Program permanent, eliminate the $25 penalty for notice of toll evasion, and adjust the Program's "processing fee" (which replaces the former penalty amount) from $4 to $8 to align processing costs and fees; C. AUTHORIZING staff to increase the fee by Consumer Price Index on an annual basis as described in the Fee Adjustment Policy to continue to keep the processing costs and fees aligned; and D. AUTHORIZING staff to make the necessary changes to the ExpressLanes Toll Ordinance, as required.
• Sponsors: Operations (Department)
• Indexes: Budget, Budgeting, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Express lanes, General purpose lanes, I-10, I-110, Impact fees, Metro Equity Platform, Metro ExpressLanes, Motion / Motion Response, Off peak periods, Payment, Peak periods, Policy, Program, Safety, Strategic planning, Tolls, Travel time, Volume
• Related files: 2023-0382, 2023-0296

Meeting_Body
EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
APRIL 20, 2023
OPERATIONS, SAFETY, AND CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE COMMITTEE
APRIL 20, 2023

Subject
SUBJECT: EXPRESSLANES PAY-AS-YOU-GO PILOT EVALUATION


Action
ACTION: APPROVE RECOMMENDATIONS

Heading
RECOMMENDATION
Title
CONSIDER:

A. RECEIVING AND FILING the ExpressLanes Pay-As-You-Go Pilot evaluation methodology and findings;

B. AUTHORIZING the Pay-As-You-Go Program permanent, eliminate the $25 penalty for notice of toll evasion, and adjust the Program's "processing fee" (which replaces the former penalty amount) from $4 to $8 to align processing costs and fees;

C. AUTHORIZING staff to increase the fee by Consumer Price Index on an annual basis as described in the Fee Adjustment Policy to continue to keep the processing costs and fees aligned; and

D. AUTHORIZING staff to make the necessary changes to the ExpressLanes Toll Ordinance, as required.

Issue
ISSUE

The Pay-As-You-Go (PAYG) Pilot was approved by the Board in January 2019 as a time-limited pilot to evaluate the effects of reducing the penalties associated with using the ExpressLanes for drivers without FasTrak transponders. At the time of approval, Metro staff committed to conducting an evaluation of the Pilot's impacts and to report back to the Board at the conclusion of the Pilot period with findings. This Board Report addresses the impacts of the Pilot, and its associated recommendation regarding the future of the PAYG Program.

Background
BACKGROUND

The PAYG pilot reduces the cost of using the ExpressLanes without a FasTrak transponder by temporarily removing the $25 violation penalty and replacing it with a significantly lower $4 processing fee for non-FasTrak trips. This $4 fee was designed and intended to match the costs of processing each PAYG notice, thereby keeping the PAYG pilot cost-neutral. For PAYG trips, the Roadside Toll Collection System captures photos of the vehicles as they traverse toll points, and the registered vehicle owner...