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PUBLIC HEARINGS AND OTHER MATTERS 17. Update on the 1 -580 High Occupancy Vehicle/ Express Lane Project Traffic Engineer Mike Tassano provided an informational report on the 1 -580 High Occupancy Vehicle /Express Lane Project which is set to open in February. A PowerPoint Presentation was displayed. The project will create new carpool /toll lanes on 1 -580 with carpool access for no charge and will allow single occupants for a fee. A slide showed the location and access. The eastbound lanes will have two express lanes and the west will have one. Mr. Tassano explained the difference between the "FasTrak" tag, which allows solo drivers to pay the fee when using the lane, and the new "FasTrak Flex" which has a toggle switch to set how many people are in the vehicle. To ride in the lanes without charge, the vehicle must contain a carpool or be a motorcycle or clean air vehicle. In response to Councilmember Pentin, Traffic Engineer Tassano stated the tags will also be required on bridges. Traffic Engineer Tassano stated that the tags can be purchased at various convenience or big box stores or online, but must be registered. The tolling system is run by overhead readers. The toll amount is automatically deducted from the user's account and will register the tag and license plate. The overhead pricing signs may initially be a bit confusing, but the data labels are self - explanatory. The westbound single lane may say HOV only in the morning and you may not be able to get in there as an express solo driver. The toll lanes will be open Monday through Friday from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The fee range for single segment is roughly $0.30 with a $9.00 maximum for the eastbound lanes and $13.00 for the westbound lanes. In response to Councilmember Olson, Traffic Engineer Tassano stated that the overhead readers will take a picture of the vehicle to confirm how many individuals are present. In response to Councilmember Narum, Traffic Engineer Tassano confirmed that the toll revenue will be utilized to operate and maintain the system and anything in excess will have to be returned to the 1 -580 corridor. In response to Councilmember Pentin, Traffic Engineer Tassano stated that any funding projections would come from the Alameda CTC report. Councilmember Brown expressed concern that even high occupancy vehicles like the Wheels Bus will be restricted from ingress /egress onto the new lanes. Traffic Engineer Tassano reported that he has not seen a transit operator who wants to have a special exemption with these types of lanes. Councilmember Brown stated it would be helpful to have ingress /egress for the Wheels Bus especially if they are planning to get it to BART, as it seems as it would be a dangerous merge to get a bus into a HOT lane. Traffic Engineer Tassano reported that the 3+ option transponder Flextag was started in Southern California as that is where they have most 3+ lanes. Mayor Thorne confirmed that although the lanes were primarily 2+ in this area, the 3+ lanes were planning for the future. The Southern California lanes have gone to 3+ and the corridor users will be prepared if it goes that way in the future. In response to Councilmember Brown, Traffic Engineer Tassano stated that the new devices can just be added to the users' existing account so the user could use the existing funds available on the old devices. MATTERS INITIATED BY COUNCIL — None City Council Minutes Page 4 of 5 February 16, 2016