Faster Commute Beginning Monday for I-15 Travelers

The San Diego region celebrated the completion of the last four miles of the Interstate 15 express lanes on Thursday, with the $1.3 billion, 20-mile stretch of expressway within the freeway set to open to the public on Monday.

“Today we dedicate a major piece of a modern new freeway system for San Diego County,” SANDAG Chair and Encinitas Mayor Jerome Stocks stated in a news release. “Our goal at SANDAG is to build similar lanes on the freeway system throughout the region, creating a network of express lanes within the already existing freeway corridors, thereby giving the traveling public additional choices.”

Built in the freeway median, the express lanes (two in each direction) extend from state route 163 in San Diego to Highway 78 in Escondido, with transit stations and Park & Ride lots available along the route. The lanes are free for carpools, vanpools, buses, permitted clear-air vehicles and motorcycles. They also are available for solo drivers who pay a toll via the FasTrak electronic tolling system—with the funds going to support operations and pay for transit service in the corridor.

“Until recently, average traffic delays along the corridor added upwards of 45 minutes to commute times,” said Acting Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty. “Today’s opening marks an improvement for San Diego-area travelers in this vital corridor.”

In celebration of the project’s completion, SANDAG is offering special incentives to new FasTrak customers, carpools, vanpools, and Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) Premium Express Bus riders to encourage them to take advantage of the Express Lanes. The promotions begin Jan. 23 and are valid through March 11 or while quantities last. Details on each are as follows:

• Solo drivers who open a FasTrak account will receive a $10 gift card sponsored by SDG&E.
• Individuals who sign up with iCommuteSD.com and track their carpool trips will receive a $10 gift card sponsored by SDG&E.
• Newly formed vanpools will receive $50 off the first month’s van lease.
• Commuters who try the MTS Premium Express Bus will receive a complimentary round-trip offer.

The SANDAG news release states that the I-15 express lanes are the first adaptable, high-tech transportation facility configured to meet diverse traveling needs. The facility features a movable barrier that allows Caltrans to make up to three lanes available to drivers during rush-hour in the peak direction. Direct access ramps enable buses and high-occupancy vehicles to enter the express lanes without yielding to traffic in the general purpose lanes.

A new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is expected to begin service on the I-15 express lanes starting in 2013. This high-frequency system will connect residential areas with major employment centers between downtown San Diego and Escondido.

"This project helped put people to work and strengthened the economy in the San Diego area," Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez said. "More lanes mean less congestion, so residents will spend less time in their cars and more time doing things they enjoy—and a year earlier than planned."

The express lanes were built in three segments. The segment from state route 56 to Centre City Parkway opened in 2008, and the segment from state route 163 to state route 56 opened in 2011. The last segment to open is from Centre City Parkway to Highway 78. The total cost of the three segments is approximately $1.3 billion.

The San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) is the region’s primary public planning, transportation and research agency, providing the public forum for regional policy decisions about growth, transportation planning and construction, environmental management, housing, open space, energy, public safety, and binational topics. It is governed by a board of directors composed of mayors, council members and supervisors from each of the region’s 18 cities and the county government.