September 3, 2025
Savat Khamphou – Public Works Director
Rosie Ureno – City Traffic Engineer
Leah Colmard – Associate Engineer
That the City Council provide direction on whether to pursue a feasibility study to look at implementing cordon pricing/tolls on Green River Road/Foothill Parkway.
2 City Councilmember Speake's Request:
• On March 12, 2025, Councilmember
Speake requested staff to explore a
Cordon Pricing program for the Green
River Road/Foothill Parkway corridor
• Concept: the city would charge a
toll to vehicles entering the city on
Green River Road and exiting on
Magnolia, Ontario, or Foothill within
an allotted time frame
• The purpose would be to reduce the
impacts of motorists cutting through
Corona to avoid traffic on SR-91/I-15
freeways
• Suggests that Corona
residents receive a 90% discount
3 Is a type of dynamic zone-based pricing implemented during times of heavy vehicle congestion. Any motorist who enters and exits the designated zone must pay a fee. 5 Image from NYC.gov Image from New York Post
Example: New York City (further explored in presentation) Case Study
• Get traffic moving
• Increase safety
• Clean the air
• Advance equity
1. Smaller zone in the downtown area (shown in darker shade)
2. Larger zone that adds Mission Bay and northeast neighborhoods (shown in lighter shade)
• Has paused the study “in light of the changing and fluid conditions surrounding traffic conditions and transit use”
• If the program is implemented, a 5-year phased approach to pricing is proposed Resources:
https://www.sfcta.org/downtown
1. Applied during weekdays 6 AM – 9 AM and 3:30 PM – 6:30 PM
2. Based on the driver’s income
3. Applied to enter the zone but not to exit
4. Uber and Lyft rides would be charged to enter the zone and any ride that starts within the zone (income-based discounts would apply)
5. 50% discount for residents within the zone
6. Bridge toll discount for individuals who crossed the bridge to enter the city
7. Expanded Muni discounts for low-income earners
6 Resources:
https://www.metro.net/projects/trafficreduction/
Case Study
• Reduce congestion
• Enhance economic opportunity
• Reduce air and climate pollution
• Make roads safer and transit faster
• Reinvest in the communities
1. Santa Monica Mountains
2. I-10 West
3. Downtown LA
• Forecasted to open in 2028
• Currently refining concept designs for potential pricing zones based on modeling results and public feedback
1. Full exceptions for 3 or more passengers or lowincome motorists
2. Reduced fee for low-income motorists
3. Transit credit reward program for those who
choose alternative transportation options
7 Case Study
• Reduce traffic and travel time
• Lead to safer streets and cleaner air
• Reduce emissions
• Improve quality of life
• Raise revenue for public transit
improvements
• Time of Day: 5 AM – 9 PM weekdays, 9 AM – 9 PM weekends • Type of Vehicle: passenger, small commercial vehicles, motorcycles, trucks, buses, taxis, vehicles for hire
• Crossing Credits: received if using a valid E-Z Pass during peak times • Connecting Between a River Crossing and Excluded Roadway: no toll applied • Discounts and Exemptions: available for low-income drivers and individuals with disabilities or organizations transporting people with disabilities, emergency vehicles, buses, and specialized government vehicles • E-Z Pass and tolls by Mail: must be paid within 30 days • Tolls will be Phased in by 2031
• The Federal Government has rescinded its approval of the program; however, the City stands firm on its legality. Resources:
https://portal.311.nyc.gov/article/?kanumber=KA-03612
https://congestionreliefzone.mta.info/
Manhattan Downtown Area
8 San Francisco
Downtown Area
Has paused the study “in light of the
changing and fluid conditions surrounding
traffic conditions and transit use”
Study on Pause
Los Angeles
Santa Monica Mountains,
I-10 West, Downtown LA
Forecasted to open in 2028
“Metro is refining the concept design for
these potential pricing areas based on
modeling results and public feedback.”
Refining Concepts
(Not Implemented)
New York
Downtown Area
60,000 fewer vehicles entering zone per day
$48 million generated during the project’s
first month
The Federal Government has rescinded its
approval of the program; however, the City
stands firm on the legality of the program
Implemented
January 2025
Cordon Pricing
9 Other Case Studies
Resource:
https://www.sfcta.org/downtown
10 Cordon Pricing Toll Roads
Primary Goal To manage traffic demand and reduce congestion, emissions, and noise in a specific, dense urban area.
To generate revenue for the construction, maintenance, and operation of a specific road, bridge, or tunnel.
Area of Effect Charges drivers for crossing a defined boundary or "cordon" around a city center or highly congested zone, rather than for using a specific road.
Applies to a specific road. You pay for the privilege of using that particular piece of infrastructure.
Fee Structure Often a flat daily fee to enter or drive within the zone. Some schemes use variable pricing that changes based on the time of day.
The toll can be a fixed fee or vary by distance traveled, vehicle type, or time of day.
Examples Systems have been successfully implemented in cities like London, Stockholm, and Singapore.
Found across many highways, bridges, and tunnels worldwide, including the Pennsylvania Turnpike, New Jersey Turnpike, and California's Toll Roads.
Potential
Impacts
Encourages the use of public transit, cycling, and walking within the city center. It can also reduce traffic delays and improve air quality.
Provides a faster travel option for drivers willing to pay and can fund transportation projects without relying solely on general taxation.
Councilmember Speake’s Suggested Location Focus 14
Cities with existing/proposed
Cordon Pricing have:
Corona Comparison:
Green River Road/Foothill Parkway
1. Legislation allows applying
fees to publicly funded and
maintained roadways.
Green River Road/Foothill Parkway was built utilizing public funds and will need to consider legality and possible legislation to allow this.
2. A strong public transportation
system.
Public buses and bike lanes are currently provided along the study corridor. Corona falls short of the scaled public transportation infrastructure found in other cities.
3. Robust toll collection
technology.
A toll collection company with technology to easily identify vehicles that enter and exit the corridor and verify who qualifies for a discount is needed. Information should be reviewed regularly to adjust for changing patterns.
4. Easily identified and
controlled entrance and exit
locations for a specified zone.
Location is more of a corridor (like a toll road) than a zone, providing a clear message to people about which entrance and exit points trigger a fee may be a challenge. An analysis of which locations will and will not trigger a fee will need to be carefully strategized since there are many access points along the corridor and negative impacts to adjacent roadways may occur.
15 Cities with existing/proposed
Cordon Pricing have the following
Corona Comparison:
Green River Road/Foothill Parkway
5. Visitors who travel to the zone for
various attractions such as shopping
and dining (typically a downtown
area).
Case studies are mostly in downtown areas with attraction to a “zone” not for pass by or cut-through traffic. Implementation may be a deterrent for non-residents who may frequent
businesses or establishments within the city.
6. A pricing schedule that advances
equity while balancing operation
costs and financial objectives to
raise revenue for public
improvements.
Per Councilmember Speake’s vision, a 90% discount would be applied to Corona residents, however, other city’s use a 50% or less discount only for zone residents. With a 90% discount applied to all Corona residents, the program may struggle to self support.
7. Close relationship with
neighboring agencies.
Coordination with Caltrans is required for the location of license plate readers at SR-91/I-15 on/off ramps. Also, neighboring agencies should be included in the discussion since SR-91/I-15 access could lead to additional strain on their current infrastructure.
16 Keep the status quo. Procure a consultant to prepare a preliminary feasibility study to
determine legal feasibility,
constructability and Cordon
pricing strategy and bring back to
Council with some options.
Observe how other programs are
progressing. Present an update to
the City Council in 5-7 years and
revisit potential implementation in
Corona.
Pros:
• No additional resources and
funding required.
Cons:
• Congestion on Green River
Road/Foothill Parkway
continues due to cut-through
traffic.
• Maintenance costs continue
to increase due to traffic
volume.
Pros:
• Will determine if Cordon pricing
works in Corona
• A holistic understanding of
congestion data collected as part
of the study
Cons:
• Study cost from $300K-$600K
(not budgeted)
• Study would reduce available
funding for other projects
Pros:
• City can analyze lessons learned
from other cities that have
implemented the program.
• Observe if upcoming
RCTC/Caltrans projects
positively address congestion in
the city.
Cons:
• Congestion & maintenance costs
on Green River Road/Foothill
Parkway may continue due to
cut-through traffic.
17 That the City Council provide direction on whether to pursue a feasibility study to look at implementing cordon pricing/tolls on Green River Road/Foothill Parkway.
18 Image from New York Case Study
AKA: Congestion Pricing