The Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency (F/ETCA), one of two joint power authorities under the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), has received unanimous approval for tolling authority for the 241/91 Express Connector project by the California Transportation Commission (CTC) at the CTC’s December meeting held in Riverside.
As background, the Legislature passed and Governor Brown signed into law Assembly Bill 194 (Frazier), which delegates to the CTC the legislative responsibility to approve tolling of transportation facilities in California. Before 2016, tolling authority was typically granted only through legislation specifically authorizing an entity to implement a tolled facility.
The CTC approval of tolling authority allows TCA to collect and manage toll operations on the 241/91 Express Connector, a new, independently tolled median-to-median connection between the 241 Toll Road and 91 Express Lanes. It also ensures the project complies with the 2019 Term Sheet between project partners which requires development and operation in alignment with AB 194. By securing tolling authority under AB 194, TCA is able to reinvest toll revenue into improvements that benefit the broader transportation network beyond the current system and ensure 241/91 Express Connector tolling operations are maintained for a term consistent with the SR-91 Express Lanes.
While TCA has tolling authority for its existing facilities (State Routes (SR’s) 73, 133, 241, and 261), the application for supplemental tolling authority was submitted specifically for the 241/91 Express Connector project as the preferred tolling authority path for the Agency and partner agencies. This demonstrates TCA’s commitment to transparency and coordination with regional partners and public stakeholders.
“The approval of tolling authority by CTC is one more positive step forward as TCA continues to make significant progress on moving this critical project towards the construction phase,” said Trish Kelley, Chair of the F/ETCA and Mission Viejo City Councilmember. “The 241/91 Express Connector will deliver considerable benefits for everyone traveling this route to provide much-needed traffic relief through this heavily traveled corridor.”
“By offering drivers a new way to connect to State Route 91, the 241/91 Express Connector will improve regional mobility while reducing the time it takes to merge onto the 91 from the 241 Toll Road,” shared Ryan Chamberlain, Chief Executive Officer, TCA. “The 241/91 Express Connector is expected to reduce weaving and merging along the general-purpose lanes on the 91 Freeway. As a result of these improvements, drivers are likely to experience travel time savings on the SR 241 and SR 91, depending on direction, day, and time of travel.”
The California Transportation Commission (CTC) is responsible for programming and allocating funds for the construction of highway, passenger rail, transit and active transportation improvements throughout California. The Commission also advises and assists the Secretary of the California State Transportation Agency and the Legislature in formulating and evaluating state policies and plans for California’s transportation programs.
The Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) are two joint powers authorities formed by the California Legislature in 1986 to plan, finance, construct and operate Orange County’s public toll road system comprised of the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads, which represents 20% of Orange County’s highway system. For more information about the 241/91 Express Connector project, visit 241/91 Express Connector Project | The Toll Roads
