91 EXPRESS LANES - Phantom Violations & Collections

  The 91 Express Lanes is a ten-mile (16 km) high-occupancy toll road / full tollway combination contained entirely within the median of the Riverside Freeway (State Route 91) in Orange County, California. They run from the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55) interchange in Anaheim to the Riverside County line.



  The 91 Express Lanes consist of two primary lanes in each direction, separated from the regular, main lanes of the Riverside Freeway with reflective yellow, 3' high, plastic lane markers (as opposed to concrete barriers or a similar "solid" barrier). Each direction also has an additional high-occupancy vehicle lane, called the "3+ Carpool Lane", that can only be used by motorcycles, zero emission vehicles, and vehicles with three or more passengers that is equipped with a FasTrak transponder that is assigned to valid prepaid toll account.  Access to the 91 Express Lanes are provided only at its east and west ends.

  All tolls are collected using an open road tolling system, with each vehicle required to carry a FasTrak transponder; there are no toll booths to receive cash. The 91 Express Lanes use a variable pricing system based on the time of day. The road is not truly "congestion priced" because toll rates come from a preset schedule instead of being based on actual congestion. Since July 1, 2011 the toll on the busiest hour on the tollway, 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm eastbound on Fridays, is $9.75, or approximately $0.97 per mile, the highest toll for any toll road in the country. The highest toll in the morning rush hour, 7:00 am to 8:00 am westbound Monday to Thursday, is $4.60.

  Motorcycles and vehicles with three or more passengers who use the "3+" carpool lanes are not charged a toll, except when traveling eastbound from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm on weekdays. During that period, they are charged 50% of the full posted toll. Even though there may be no toll charge, a FasTrak transponder is still required on all vehicles using the "3+" carpool lanes.

SOME NEGATIVES HARDLY MENTIONED...

1.)  ARBITRARY FINES - There have been a number of random 'Violations' issued to accounts in "Good Standing" and this can be a major problem.  I used to doubt these claims as gross exaggerations until I myself was hit with a fine for $140.00 on my account that had a VERIFIED balance without overages.  In other words I had funds in my account totaling 5x the actual fee that day.  Somehow I was levied a fine for account insufficient funds violation.  I called at the end of the month when I was finally notified, but was told the penalty was already issued and sent to collections.

  When I asked if they could check the balance they indeed admitted the account was NOT insufficiently funded, but because it was sent to collections I would have to contact the collections agency for a refund.  I did so and was told by the collections agency they could not verify my account status for that day & the violation penalties would stand.  In other words I was caught in the bureaucracy of the TOLL-ROADS.  I paid the fines and then returned my transponder, this was actually the 2nd fraud issue with this agency and I was wary of continued relations with them.  Your results may vary, so give it a try...maybe your luck is better then mine?

2.)  PROXIMITY TRIGGERS - Make sure you remove your transponder from the vehicle when traveling NEAR the lanes, but not utilizing FasTrak.  Transponders can trigger even through a glove-box on poorly adjusted FasTrak Transceivers.  I was issued a TOLL for travelling in the FAST lane, NOT FasTrak Lanes, but the fastest lane next to it.  It occurred on a Friday evening with my transponder in my glove-box, I returned home and saw the charge.  I called them and they said they would look into it.  In this case I was issued a refund, but you need to be wary.  It is a shame this happened because it forces you to change lanes to AVOID the transceivers as you pass them even though your not using FasTrak.  I think this was an adjustment issue on their signal tower/sign, but how can you possibly prove any of it?

3.)  DEADLY LANE CHANGERS - The 3rd problem for me was a major one.  People like to break the law and merge illegally into FasTrak when the 91 is bumper-to-bumper.  This is deadly since you might be going 75MPH when a crazy driver merges into the lane going 20MPH or less.  Three times in as many years this happened to me personally and it was nearly catastrophic, I assume everybody is a law breaker when I drive so I was able to cope.  If you mindlessly TRUST the FasTrak lane dividers to keep illegal lane-changers from happening, it could result in a deadly outcome.

IN SUMMARY ... I wanted to use FasTrak on a regular basis, but in the end I simply changed jobs to avoid the commute.  The 91 FWY is so dangerous that you risk your life anytime you drive it, the BIG trucks, Tour Buses, Recreational Vehicles Towing & bad drivers make this freeway an incredibly dangerous drive.  FasTrak simply adds to the burden for some & might even cost you a lot of cash since fines can be steep & it's taken out of your Taxes should you fail to pay the fines.

I know a lot of people that love the lanes, every now and then they tell me..."I can't believe they fined me and I wasn't even using their lanes?"  I just shake my head and say "No way, that can't be true?"

Even though I know it probably is....it's just easier to stay out of the discussion, that's why I have a Blog after-all.


Have questions? Here's their contact information!

• By phone:

  800.600.9191 (8:00am to 5:00pm) Monday - Friday
  
  

  By mail:

  91 Express Lanes

  P.O. Box 9191 Corona, CA 92878-9191

• In person:

  Corona Customer Service Center

  2275 Sampson Avenue, Suite 100 Corona, CA 92879
  Hours: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Monday - Friday
  
  

  OCTA Store

  600 S. Main Street Orange, CA 92868
  Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday - Friday