The carpool lane will remain free for carpoolers, with extended hours from 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. But also during that time, single drivers can pay to use that lane, which is now being called an "express lane."
On Thursday night, crews begin striping the double-white lines dividing the express lane from the others. The tolling begins at 5 a.m. Sept. 20.
Drivers will have to have a Fastrak transponder. During the 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. tolling period single drivers who want to use the express lane will be charged as little as 30 cents, when there is no congestion, to as much as $6 at peak times to drive the entire 14-mile express lane.
It begins in Sunol, a half-mile south of Highway 84 and ends just south of Highway 237.
There will be three entry and exit points and it will be illegal to get in or out of the lane anywhere but those designated spots. Any violation in use of the lane will cost drivers a minimum of $381.
Project managers expect there will be some driver confusion in the beginning.
Scott Haggerty, MTC chairman and chair of the express lane project says "There will be a learning curve."
