Toll Roads Save Time, Gas, Money: New Economic Study Shows without The Toll Roads, Thousands of Commuters Would Spend One Year Stuck in Traffic, Waste Millions of Gallons of Gas, and Face Longer Freeway Commutes.

IRVINE, Calif. -- Orange County's 51-mile toll road system operated by the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) saves motorists more than six million hours and $182 million annually because of reduced congestion, according to a newly released economic study.

The study, called "Economic Benefits of The Toll Roads," focuses on the reduction of traffic congestion - and the corresponding savings in time and gas - that have resulted from the existence of the 73, 241, 261, and 133 Toll Roads in Orange County. The study was commissioned in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the TCA, which were formed as joint powers authorities by local cities and the County of Orange in 1986 to find solutions to Orange County's growing traffic problems.

The report estimated that motorists save an estimated 24,000 hours each weekday during peak travel times, or more than six million hours of driving time per year.

"Were it not for the toll roads, the equivalent of more than 760,000 workers would spend one entire work day or eight hours per year completely stuck in traffic," said Economist Tapan Munroe, Ph.D., who led the study. "Annually, this would equate into 2,900 workers spending their entire working year trapped in traffic."

The study also found that motorists using The Toll Roads save more than two million gallons of gas per year because of improved fuel efficiency, which represents another $7 million in savings.

The improved fuel efficiency saves enough gas to power more than 4,600 Honda Civics a year, assuming 15,000 driving miles a year and 35 gallons per mile, and enough to power 1,960 GMC Yukon Denalis, assuming 14.7 miles per gallon and 15,000 miles, Munroe said.

"The Toll Roads are important to keeping this region accessible and attractive to businesses and major employers," said Lucy Dunn, CEO of the Orange County Business Council. "The timely movement of goods and services as well as getting our workers and residents to and from their places of employment is critical to maintaining Orange County's economic prosperity and high quality of life. This is what keeps our top businesses and jobs in Orange County."

LIFE WITHOUT THE TOLL ROADS

To determine the impact of congestion reduction, the study first examined what traffic conditions would look like on Orange County's non-toll highways and interstates if The Toll Roads did not exist.

To measure the impact, the highest peak hour traffic on a toll road segment was projected onto nearby arterial highways and interstate segments.

"Our analysis found that in most cases, traffic along the SR-91, I-405 and I-5 would be pushed into serious congestion conditions. When these higher traffic volume levels are translated into decreased speeds and increased travel time, traffic along the I-405 and I-5 would literally come to a complete stop," Munroe said.

For example, the I-405 would carry 26 percent more peak traffic were it not for the vehicles diverted to the SR-73. And peak traffic through the Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo areas along I-5 would increase by more than 50 percent without the SR-241 and SR-73.

Significant increases in travel time would occur on several freeway segments including:

--Nearly 25 minutes on the I-405 through Irvine from the SR-55 to the I-5.

--Nearly 24 minutes on the I-5 through Lake Forest, Laguna Hills and Mission Viejo.

--Nearly 21 minutes on the I-5 through Irvine.

--Nearly 21 minutes on the SR-91 through Anaheim and Yorba Linda from the 241 Toll Road to the SR-55.

--More than 15 minutes on the SR-55 through portions of Orange, Tustin and Santa Ana between the SR-91 and the I-5.

OTHER FINDINGS

The study also noted that property values in neighborhoods with easy access to The Toll Roads have increased more than in other areas. The report cited evidence that indicates home buyers are willing to pay for the increased access that The Toll Roads provide.

Businesses also benefit through improved delivery systems and management of inventories, less lost time from employees arriving late to work and absenteeism as well as making it easier to attract employees because of the increased desirability to live in the area.

BACKGROUND

The study was conducted as the Transportation Corridor Agencies celebrate their 20th anniversaries. The joint powers agencies - the Foothill/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills Corridor Agencies - were formed in 1986 to find solutions to the growing traffic congestion that would eventually impact Orange County's economy and quality of life.

Subsequently, the state legislature authorized TCA to collect tolls in order to finance, build and operate the roads - a new concept in California. The existing 51-mile system opened in segments between 1993 and 1999. The Foothill/Eastern Board earlier this year approved an alignment to complete the last 16-mile segment of the Foothill (SR-241) Toll Road. The project, known as Foothill-South, will extend the 241 to the I-5 Freeway in San Clemente, completing Orange County's planned 67-mile toll road system operated by TCA.

LeCG, a worldwide consulting firm based in Emeryville, Calif., conducted the study, with economists Tapan Munroe, Ph.D., and Ronald Schmidt, Ph.D., leading the effort.

Note: Copies of the full economic report are available by contacting Clare Venegas at 949-754-3417.

ABOUT TCA/THE TOLL ROADS

Nearly 300,000 trips are taken on The Toll Roads every weekday, saving drivers an average of 21 minutes per trip. The Toll Roads are operated by the Foothill/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agencies, two joint powers authorities formed in 1986 to plan, finance, construct, and operate Orange County's 67-mile public toll road system. Fifty-one miles of the system are complete, including the San Joaquin Hills (73) Toll Road from Newport Beach to San Juan Capistrano; and the Foothill (241) and Eastern (241, 261, and 133) Toll Roads from the 91 Freeway to south Orange County.

More: www.thetollroads.com

FAST FACTS: OC TOLL ROADS ECONOMIC STUDY

TCA Toll Roads save over 6,000,000 hours of driving time per year
during just the 6 hours of peak traffic.

Without The Toll Roads:

    --  The equivalent of over 760,000 workers would spend one entire
        day (8 hours) per year completely stuck in traffic.

    --  Annually, this would equate to over 2,900 workers spending
        their entire working year (2,088 hours) stuck in traffic.

The TCA Toll Roads save the County's drivers over 2,000,000 gallons of
gasoline per year.

The TCA Toll Roads:

    --  Save enough fuel to power over 4,600 Honda Civics for a year.

    --  Save enough fuel to power 1,960 Yukon Denalis for a year.

Source of fuel use data: HybridCars.com