The Technology Driving Express Lanes

When the I-680 Contra Costa Express Lanes open in fall 2017, MTC will be moving not just cars but also a lot of data. Traffic conditions on the express lanes will be monitored in real-time by staff at MTC’s Regional Operations Center (ROC) at the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco thanks to a new communications system. The system allows MTC staff to see how traffic is flowing on the Express Lane to ensure the efficient movement of vehicles in the corridor. The system also sends data collected from the vehicles passing under the tolling gantries to the FasTrak® Customer Service Center, also located at the Bay Area Metro Center in San Francisco. This new communications system will be expanded to include additional express lanes and to better manage traffic through other technology solutions like ramp-metering and advanced messaging systems (like what recently opened on I-80). MTC is committed to improving traffic congestion on a constrained network even as population and jobs grow. New technology and encouraging transit and carpooling are keys to getting the most out of the network.

To use the I-680 Contra Costa Express Lane, all drivers must have FasTrak. Carpools, clean-air vehicles and motorcycles must use a FasTrak Flex® toll tag set in the 2 or 3+ position to use the lanes toll free. Solo drivers can use a standard FasTrak toll tag or a FasTrak Flex toll tag set in the 1 position to pay a toll to use the lanes for a more reliable trip.