Caltrans plans to spend more than $300 million to add a carpool lane to each side of the San Diego (405) Freeway through the Westside. Tentatively set to begin in August, construction could take up to 10 years and cause even more congestion. Because diamond lanes generally haven’t encouraged much carpooling so far, the Business Journal asks:
Is adding carpool lanes the best way to solve the gridlock problem on the 405?
Terry Burden [picnm4-12]
Director of Development
Pittard Sullivan
To say yes would be blindly optimistic and an oversimplified response. There’s no question that if you look at the amount of traffic on the 405 on a daily basis, something has to be done. If data indicate that building (carpool) lanes does not change driver behavior, than one issue is building the lane, but the other is changing driver behavior. Why spend the money and hope people will change? It’s a complicated problem, I don’t think building the lane will solve anything.
Julia Huang
President
Intertrend Communications
I think so. It’s so strange the way the carpool lane stops right before the airport on the 405 now. This should improve traffic flow. With the Harbor Freeway carpool lanes, we’re forced to never go downtown without someone else in the car, and I’ve noticed it’s improved the traffic getting downtown.
Marc Goldman
Vice President
AppleOne Employment Services
My guess would be, probably not. The money would be better spent rethinking some of the transitions on the Westside, similar to what they did in Orange County with the “Orange Crush.” That project took them three to four years, and at the end they reduced congestion. My guess is, the money could be better spent modifying the 405 in a better way. On a personal level, I’m bummed it will take so long to do anything about it. But we have to do something it’s one of the most vital corridors in the basin.
Craig Silvers
RealEstate Analyst
Sutro & Co. Inc.
I think it’s the only way. It’s too expensive and there’s too much opposition from local business to build alternate routes through West L.A. The San Diego Freeway needs some kind of help it’s essentially one big parking lot through West L.A.
Rick Newman
Senior Vice President
Lowe Enterprises Commercial Group
My view is that it’s a start, although it is probably not the solution that fixes all the congestion. I’m in the dark as to what other solutions have been considered. Clearly the 405 is a lifeline between key business communities the congestion needs to be worked on. It’s just hard to judge one without knowing the alternatives.
Stuart A. Levine
Regional Vice President
Tri Capital Corp.
To me it sounds like a short-term fix and anything that can be done to encourage other forms of transportation should be studied. It’s hard for me to say that because I’m such a car lover.
