EDF Releases Traffic Reduction Plan For Bay Areas' Most Congested Highway

The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) today released a plan to reduce gridlock on the Bay Area’s most congested highway, Interstate 80. EDF’s traffic reduction plan calls on the Metropolitan Transportation Committee (MTC) to convert the existing I-80 carpool lanes into Express Lanes, which offer solo drivers access to the lanes for a fee. Revenue would support transit service in the corridor. All travelers in the I-80 corridor would benefit. The report was distributed to MTC members, who will vote on June 12th on scaling back the hours of the I-80 carpool lanes that have been in operation only for a few months.

“By reducing the hours on the I-80 carpool lanes, MTC would be taking a step backward into more gridlock and pollution from cars stuck in traffic,” said Daniel Kirshner, senior economic analyst at EDF. “Our new plan is a step toward easier commuting and less pollution. Express Lanes take full advantage of the existing carpool lanes. Express lanes are a proven solution.”

“Congestion can be reduced on the entire I-80 facility and immediately begin to generate revenue for improved transit options in the corridor. The I-80 carpool lanes already exist and can be converted into Express Lanes, which has been done with great success on Interstate 15 in San Diego,” said Michael Cameron, transportation program manager at EDF.

“Think traffic is bad now? By 2020, almost one million more cars will clog Bay Area highways. At a cost of over $25 million per mile, expanding highways isn’t a viable option, ” said Russell Hancock with the Bay Area Council. “Fortunately, we have a solution right now: Express Lanes.”

“Express Lanes benefit everyone. The first benefit is reducing congestion and travel delays on all lanes. They also help reduce air pollution by eliminating stop and go traffic and raise revenue for transit in the corridor,” said Elizabeth Deakin, professor of city and regional planning at the University of California at Berkeley.

“Express Lanes provide an opportunity to get full utilization out of carpool lanes without losing the incentive for carpooling,” said Joy Dahlgren, assistant research engineer at the University of California at Berkeley. “The added benefit is that people have a choice: if people who can’t carpool really need a fast trip they can buy it.”

“This a forward-thinking plan to reduce congestion, while preserving the incentive to carpool,” said Chair of the Bay Area Air District Management Board Greg Harper.