One of the greatest transportation policy success stories of recent decades is express toll lanes. Since the world’s first variably-priced express lane project opened on State Route 91 in Orange County, California, in Dec. 1995, similar projects have spread to nearly all the largest urban areas in the United States—apart from the Northeast. In fact, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) data shows more than 60 express toll lane (ETL) projects in operation across the country as of last year.
Express toll lanes have continued to be implemented because of their performance. Thanks to variable pricing, they are the only highway segments that
