Managed lanes are specialized roadways designed to enhance traffic flow and efficiency by regulating vehicle access based on specific criteria. The most common type of managed lane is a carpool lane, or High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lane, and we already have many carpool lanes in the Sacramento region. Managed lanes can also be classified by vehicle type, including truck-only lanes and bus-only lanes. Some managed lanes involve tolls, such as High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes or express lanes, providing an option for drivers to pay for a more expedited and reliable commute.

A toll lane is a highway lane where drivers are required to pay a fee to use it. Toll lanes are built adjacent regular, free lanes and no driver is required to use the toll lane. There are two main types of toll lanes:

1. High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, where carpoolers who meet a minimum occupancy requirement can use the lane for free, but people driving alone or under the occupancy requirement must pay a toll.
2. Express Toll Lanes (ETL), where all drivers must pay a toll to use the lane.

As an integral component of the long-range plan for the Sacramento region, toll lanes are anticipated to be built over the next 20 years on the most congested portions of Interstate 80 (I-80), Interstate 5 (I-5), State Route 99, State Route 65, and Highway 50. Three toll lane projects are currently being developed: the first on I-80 from Davis to West Sacramento in Yolo County, the second on I-5 from the Sacramento International Airport to downtown in Sacramento County, and the third on SR 65 in Placer County. The Yolo 80 project is currently under construction. The other two projects are currently in the environmental phase and are being developed with input from residents, drivers, and elected officials.

State law puts the California Transportation Commission in charge of authorizing agenceis to manage and operate toll lanes on the state highway system. For the Yolo 80 project, CARTA is the authorized toll authority. CARTA is a Joint Powers Authority, or JPA, between the Sacramento Area Council of Governments (SACOG), Yolo Transportation District (YTD) and Caltrans District 3 to manage and operate tolls in the Sacramento region and create a centralized system that can expand as toll lanes expand in the region.

A JPA is a collaborative entity formed by two or more public agencies to jointly exercise powers and undertake shared responsibilities for specific projects or services. Through a legally binding agreement, participating entities pool resources and authority to address common issues, fostering regional cooperation and efficiency in achieving mutual objectives.

CARTA will adopt an expenditure plan through a public process to be transparent about toll fees, operation costs, and how revenues will be distributed. By law, toll revenues are required to be spent within the corridor. The toll operations and maintenance costs must be paid before any other investments are made. 

Toll lanes are anticipated to be introduced gradually in the Sacramento region over the next twenty years. The first toll lane on I-80 between Davis and West Sacramento in Yolo County began construction in 2024 and is expected to begin operations in 2028.

Tolling and managed lanes ease traffic by providing drivers with the option of choosing faster, less congested routes. This leads to improved overall traffic flow and reduced travel times for drivers in the toll lane and in the free lanes. Additionally, the revenue generated from tolling can be reinvested into transportation improvements, further enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of the road network.

Toll rates will be dynamically priced, which means that the price will rise and fall to maintain at least 45 miles per hour in the toll lane. Estimated toll rates will be published for residents and drivers in the future. Toll lanes in the Sacramento region will use the same FasTrak system currently used in the Bay Area and Southern California. Residents of the Sacramento Region who already have a FasTrak account will be able to keep the same account and use it for any new toll lanes. New FasTrak customers will be able to sign-up and receive a transponder to mount in their windshield. 

Adding more lanes to highways may relieve traffic for a short amount of time, but eventually traffic comes back, and it is often worse than before. Toll lanes provide more reliable travel times for drivers to provide a better, long-term solution to easing traffic in the region.

Given the rising cost of living across California, an important consideration is whether pricing the road is more or less fair than leaving it free. Studies suggest that the busiest roads during peak hours are disproportionately used by high-income individuals, while lower income individuals are more likely to travel off-peak, use non-highway routes, or take transit. Studies also measure the significant financial impact traffic has on drivers of all incomes, through lost time, limited economic opportunity, and vehicle maintenance costs. As a result, toll lanes, depending on how they are implemented, can improve equity for low-income drivers and transit users. It is important to note that drivers can choose to use the existing lanes at no charge.

CARTA and its partners are committed to building a system that improves transportation equity. Potential equity measures include income-based discounts, transit improvements, and toll caps. These equity measures will be developed in collaboration with residents, drivers, and especially the individuals who the system will affect the most.