Those who choose to pay a toll improve traffic for everyone by freeing up space in the regular lanes. Also, if there are excess toll revenues beyond those needed for operation, maintenance and financing costs, they can provide funding for additional improvements in the corridor.

The 405 Express Lanes is one component of the overall 16-mile I-405 Improvement Project. With new lanes, bridges, ramps, and enhancements to surrounding city streets, the voter-approved project supports OCTA’s mission to deliver a balanced and sustainable transportation network for all those who live, work and visit Orange County.

The expected opening is late 2023.

The tolls can vary by hour, day of the week and direction of travel. Traffic volumes are continuously monitored and if warranted, tolls are adjusted up or down based on demand. The toll policy and toll schedules were approved by the OCTA Board of Directors on July 24, 2023. Click here for the public presentation and more information..

With two lanes in either direction, OCTA’s new 405 Express Lanes covers the 14-mile stretch between the SR-73 freeway in Costa Mesa and the I-605 freeway near the L.A. County line. Drivers can enter and exit at the SR-73 (South) and I-605 (North).

In addition, there are multiple access between points between SR-73 and I-605, giving drivers sufficient opportunity to reach every interchange and business along the corridor:

• Bolsa/Goldenwest
• Magnolia/Warner
• SR-22

See map here.

The 405 Express Lanes operates with a state-of-the-art electronic toll collection system which requires a FasTrak® transponder. This transponder-based system allows travel without stopping to pay a toll and there will be no cash payments or toll booths. FasTrak® transponders will be required for customers to use the express lanes.

To use the 405 Express Lanes, vehicles must have a properly mounted FasTrak® transponder associated with an account.

In order to receive carpool discounts on the 405 Express Lanes, vehicles must have a FasTrak® Flex switchable transponder.

Travelling without a transponder on the 405 Express Lanes is a violation of the California Vehicle Code and may result in the issuance of a toll evasion violation notice or citation by the California Highway Patrol.

Yes, you can use your FasTrak® transponder on any toll agencies in California. The 405 Express Lanes exchanges information with the other toll operators within the state to provide you with seamless travel with a single account.

To take advantage of the free or discounted tolls for carpoolers on the 405 Express Lanes, drivers must have a switchable FasTrak® transponder.

To view a map and websites of all California toll agencies and information regarding their toll rates and policies, click here.

Sign up to be notified when registration opens for the 405 Express Lanes at the bottom of the page.

If you would like to receive a transponder before then, you can open an account with one of the existing California toll agencies, including OCTA. To view a map and websites of all California toll agencies and information regarding their toll rates and policies, click here.

To take advantage of the free or discounted tolls for carpoolers on the 405 Express Lanes, drivers must have a switchable FasTrak® transponder. Switchable transponders can be purchased through California toll agencies for $15.

The OCTA Board of Directors (Board), which is leading the freeway improvement project, voted to adopt a number of goals that would guide the development and implementation of the 405 Express Lanes toll policy. The goals focus on providing express lanes customers with a reliable commute while optimizing the number of cars that can utilize the lanes at free-flow speeds, and encouraging ridesharing and transit use.

The complete list of board-adopted 405 Express Lanes goals:

• Provide express lanes customers with a safe, reliable, predictable commute.
• Optimize throughput at free-flow speeds.
• Increase average vehicle occupancy.
• Balance capacity and demand to serve customers who pay tolls as well as people who rideshare or use transit.
• Generate sufficient revenue to sustain the financial viability of the express lanes.
• Ensure all covenants in the financing documents are met.
• Ensure any potential net excess toll revenues are used for Interstate 405 corridor improvements.

The 405 Express Lanes will use congestion management pricing. This type of pricing was pioneered on the 91 Express Lanes, also operated by OCTA.

Congestion management pricing is designed to optimize express lanes traffic at free-flow speeds. To accomplish this OCTA monitors hourly traffic volumes. Tolls are increased when traffic volumes consistently reach a trigger point where traffic flow can become unstable. If traffic drops below the optimal traffic volume, tolls are lowered to encourage usage.

The tolls can vary by hour, day of the week and direction of travel. Traffic volumes are continuously monitored and if warranted, tolls are adjusted quarterly. This approach balances traffic engineering with good public policy and gives customers an opportunity to know the toll price before they make their trip.

Two goals of the 405 Express Lanes are: (1) balance capacity and demand to serve customers who pay tolls as well as people who rideshare or use transit, and (2) generate sufficient revenue to sustain the financial viability of the express lanes. The first 3.5 years after the 405 Express Lanes open is a ramp-up period. In order to continue to guarantee free-flow speeds and achieve the two goals listed above the toll structure must be adjusted.

Prior to the I-405 Improvement Project, the carpool lanes regularly failed to provide a faster commute than the regular lanes. The carpool lanes were degraded to the point that they often moved just as slow or sometimes slower than the regular lanes. The entire I-405 Improvement Project and the adopted toll policy allow congestion to be managed in both the near-term and long-term based on expected growth in demand. Degraded carpool lanes are an issue throughout Orange County and more information on this topic can be found in a study that Caltrans conducted, called the HOV Degradation Report

All vehicles, including motorcycles, must have a transponder in order to use the 405 Express Lanes. According to the the toll policy, motorcycles are allowed free travel at all times and are eligible for the Special Access account.

Customers with a clean air vehicle with a valid decal are eligible for a 15% discount. To receive the discount - must have a valid FasTrak account & official California DMV vehicle registration.

The 405 Express Lanes offers free travel for vehicles displaying designated veteran plates issued by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) with a valid FasTrak^® account and transponder. Below is a list of license plates that qualify for this discount on the 405 Express Lanes.

If you have a FasTrak^® account with another agency, please contact them to register your license plate. There is no need to have multiple FasTrak^® accounts.

The 405 Express Lanes is one component of the overall 16-mile I-405 Improvement Project. With new lanes, bridges, ramps, and enhancements to surrounding city streets, the voter-approved project supports OCTA’s mission to deliver a balanced and sustainable transportation network for all those who live, work and visit Orange County.

The I-405 freeway experiences heavy traffic congestion and conditions are expected to worsen. Built in the 1960s, the freeway carries between 257,000 and 370,000 vehicles per day depending on location. Near the L.A. County line, the I-405 is the most heavily traveled freeway in the nation and both the regular lanes and carpool lanes are congested daily during rush hour and on weekends.

Traffic along the corridor is expected to grow approximately 35 percent by 2040. Improvements are needed to enhance traffic flow, accommodate growing traffic demand, relieve congestion, and improve overall mobility. The I-405 Improvement Project is critical in order to accommodate expected employment, population and housing growth in not only Orange County but throughout Southern California.