Mackinac Bridge congestion

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

[hobsini2]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Well 1. It would make it easier for those of us who do have a compatible system to EZ-Pass to use the Michigan bridges. 2. I have never been to the UP except for once and that was by Escanaba. So yes I have never used the Bridge. And it's not like I would say, "I won't go there because they are not EZ-Pass system compatible." But I would like to be able to keep my transponder total to 1.

And yes I make the same argument about other states that have toll roads and bridges that are not interoperable.

[SEWIGuy]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

[Molandfreak]

I really didn't mean for the troll comment to come across as a personal attack—I just find the assertion incredibly ridiculous that an entirely voluntary system of HOT lanes located 325 miles from the nearest mandatory toll accepting E-ZPass has more of a reason to integrate than a mandatory toll bridge located a similar distance from a mandatory toll facility accepting E-ZPass.

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

[SEWIGuy]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

I have made plenty of good points. Many others agree with them. You either can't understand them, or simply don't want to understand them. Either way, that's on you. Keep your head buried.

Anyway the Mac bridge is a toll road. So yes, Michigan has toll roads.

[Rothman]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

My dude, this is not a good look for you.  Traffic across the toll bridge triples in the summer months and, like I said, the MBA at least admits out of staters grow along with it.

There's no reason why AET with E-ZPass compatibility can't be instituted.

I've been across the bridge and will be again.  Got a kayaking trip I want do in the North Country.  All I know is after zipping around on every other toll road, a bridge with millions of crossings a year still taking tolls manually feels ridiculously obsolete.

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

I have made plenty of good points. Many others agree with them. You either can't understand them, or simply don't want to understand them. Either way, that's on you. Keep your head buried.

Anyway the Mac bridge is a toll road. So yes, Michigan has toll roads.

It's a toll bridge not a toll road. Where are your good points at? Name them. And keep my head buried, I have no idea why you have to be so ignorant. This is a discussion forum not an argument forum and there wasn't any argument until you started attacking me just because you don't agree with what I said. That's ridiculous.

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

My dude, this is not a good look for you.  Traffic across the toll bridge triples in the summer months and, like I said, the MBA at least admits out of staters grow along with it.

There's no reason why AET with E-ZPass compatibility can't be instituted.

I've been across the bridge and will be again.  Got a kayaking trip I want do in the North Country.  All I know is after zipping around on every other toll road, a bridge with millions of crossings a year still taking tolls manually feels ridiculously obsolete.

No kidding traffic across the bridge in the summertime picks up in volume do you think I don't know that? I have a place up north in Michigan dude, I live in Saginaw which is right along I-75 traffic from the Metro Detroit area goes up north on a Friday and down south on a Sunday all the time in the summertime. It's been like that for years I've lived in Michigan for 45 years I think I know what I'm talking about.

[hobsini2]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

My dude, this is not a good look for you.  Traffic across the toll bridge triples in the summer months and, like I said, the MBA at least admits out of staters grow along with it.

There's no reason why AET with E-ZPass compatibility can't be instituted.

I've been across the bridge and will be again.  Got a kayaking trip I want do in the North Country.  All I know is after zipping around on every other toll road, a bridge with millions of crossings a year still taking tolls manually feels ridiculously obsolete.

No kidding traffic across the bridge in the summertime picks up in volume do you think I don't know that? I have a place up north in Michigan dude, I live in Saginaw which is right along I-75 traffic from the Metro Detroit area goes up north on a Friday and down south on a Sunday all the time in the summertime. It's been like that for years I've lived in Michigan for 45 years I think I know what I'm talking about.

Would you agree that for the out of staters like myself, if EZ Pass was compatible with the Mac Pass, it would lower the amount of congestion going into the toll?

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

Bwahahahaha!

You do have toll roads. That's why the discussion is taking place. And you SHOULD adapt EZ Pass. You have made no good points why you shouldn't.

But I guess the people running the bridge have their heads buried as far in the ground as you do.

No we do not have toll roads. Where is this toll road at? You haven't made any good points why we should have E-ZPass. Oh yeah just because the Mackinac Bridge doesn't accept E-ZPass means I have my head buried in the ground grow up dude.

My dude, this is not a good look for you.  Traffic across the toll bridge triples in the summer months and, like I said, the MBA at least admits out of staters grow along with it.

There's no reason why AET with E-ZPass compatibility can't be instituted.

I've been across the bridge and will be again.  Got a kayaking trip I want do in the North Country.  All I know is after zipping around on every other toll road, a bridge with millions of crossings a year still taking tolls manually feels ridiculously obsolete.

No kidding traffic across the bridge in the summertime picks up in volume do you think I don't know that? I have a place up north in Michigan dude, I live in Saginaw which is right along I-75 traffic from the Metro Detroit area goes up north on a Friday and down south on a Sunday all the time in the summertime. It's been like that for years I've lived in Michigan for 45 years I think I know what I'm talking about.

Would you agree that for the out of staters like myself, if EZ Pass was compatible with the Mac Pass, it would lower the amount of congestion going into the toll?

It might but it wouldn't stop the congestion on the bridge. They are constantly working on it so there is almost always a lane closed or something, I don't see how ezpass would stop that. Im not trying to argue with anyone just posting my opinions. I cross the bridge quite often myself.

[Plutonic Panda]

I would have to agree that all electronic tolling would be a no-brainer be it EZ Pass or or some kind of system that is interoperable with all other systems in the country, which is what is supposed to happen anyways. I mean, there should be a system that should work with an Oklahoma Pike pass. It should work with everything.

[Flint1979]

Ok to be clear I understand everyone's point but I don't think it would relieve the traffic congestion especially on summer weekends. I cross the bridge about twice a month on average and always get stuck in traffic on the bridge if it's a summer weekend. But I get the reason that you people in here think they should have it and if you used the toll roads in Ohio's, Indiana and Illinois on a regular basis say once a week at the least it might be worth it to have it.

[vdeane]

Ok to be clear I understand everyone's point but I don't think it would relieve the traffic congestion especially on summer weekends. I cross the bridge about twice a month on average and always get stuck in traffic on the bridge if it's a summer weekend. But I get the reason that you people in here think they should have it and if you used the toll roads in Ohio's, Indiana and Illinois on a regular basis say once a week at the least it might be worth it to have it.

So unless you use a toll road (a Turnpike-style road, not a bridge, although I fail to see why that distinction is useful) at least once a week, it's not worth getting?  Am I getting that right?  Because that's ridiculous.  When I went to college and inherited Mom's car, I got an E-ZPass.  Was I using the Thruway once a week?  Heck no!  But I still got it, even if I only needed to make eight trips per year between home and college, and the Thruway still took cash.  It was just that convenient.

[JREwing78]

Would you agree that for the out of staters like myself, if EZ Pass was compatible with the Mac Pass, it would lower the amount of congestion going into the toll?

It all depends on the rate of E-ZPass users. For northbound traffic, there's maybe 750 feet of distance where the highway widens to meet the tollbooths; if the backups reach the causeway, the E-ZPass holders are stuck just like the folks paying with cash or card. We could try to fudge those numbers by restricting cash/card folks to the right lane approaching the tollbooths, but such signage would have limited effectiveness. If they achieved 60% participation with E-ZPass, it would genuinely be helpful. If participation is lower, its usefulness in reducing congestion plummets.

[Flint1979]

Ok to be clear I understand everyone's point but I don't think it would relieve the traffic congestion especially on summer weekends. I cross the bridge about twice a month on average and always get stuck in traffic on the bridge if it's a summer weekend. But I get the reason that you people in here think they should have it and if you used the toll roads in Ohio's, Indiana and Illinois on a regular basis say once a week at the least it might be worth it to have it.

So unless you use a toll road (a Turnpike-style road, not a bridge, although I fail to see why that distinction is useful) at least once a week, it's not worth getting?  Am I getting that right?  Because that's ridiculous.  When I went to college and inherited Mom's car, I got an E-ZPass.  Was I using the Thruway once a week?  Heck no!  But I still got it, even if I only needed to make eight trips per year between home and college, and the Thruway still took cash.  It was just that convenient.

Yes to me that would be about the max it's worth of getting it. If I'm only going to use it 8 times a year I don't care about a minor inconvenience that takes less than a minute so nope I wouldn't bother getting one. It doesn't make any sense for someone like me to have EZPass.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

This thread is now 4 pages of the same people saying the same stuff.

[Rothman]

We're not saying E-ZPass only, though.  I'm talking whatever AET they want, as long as they make it compatible.

I find the assertion that removing the plaza and gates and replacing with AET and toll-by-plate to not have an effect on congestion to be totally unfounded.  One merely needs to drive the Thruway through Williamsville or heck, even take a drive over the GWB to see the drastic effects AET/Toll-by-Plate can have on congestion.

To say that traffic is going to remain the same is just irrational.

[SSOWorld]

I honestly don't see why EZPass couldn't work here as it does in most of the rest of the country.

Absent that, it might make sense to allow a maximum of 6 lanes in one direction instead of 5, assuming there are strong directional flows of northbound before and southbound after the holiday weekends. Even if having just two lanes creates issues in the non-peak direction, it would still ease things up on average and having the flexibility to do so never hurts.

Indiana Toll Road says Hello.

[Scott5114]

Indiana Toll Road says Hello.

That would scare the shit out of me if it happened while I was driving on it.

[vdeane]

Yes to me that would be about the max it's worth of getting it. If I'm only going to use it 8 times a year I don't care about a minor inconvenience that takes less than a minute so nope I wouldn't bother getting one. It doesn't make any sense for someone like me to have EZPass.

Me, I wouldn't want to inconvenience the line with the time it would take me to get out my wallet, pull out cash, and then put my wallet away.  And since I rarely use cash, factor in time for change to be made as well, if they don't take cards (although when I crossed the Blue Water Bridge, I could have put my card away then and there rather than wait for the line at customs, since it took them that long to process the card and raise the gate).

We're not saying E-ZPass only, though.  I'm talking whatever AET they want, as long as they make it compatible.

I find the assertion that removing the plaza and gates and replacing with AET and toll-by-plate to not have an effect on congestion to be totally unfounded.  One merely needs to drive the Thruway through Williamsville or heck, even take a drive over the GWB to see the drastic effects AET/Toll-by-Plate can have on congestion.

To say that traffic is going to remain the same is just irrational.

I don't think most of us wanting interoperability are pushing for full AET, however.

[Flint1979]

Yes to me that would be about the max it's worth of getting it. If I'm only going to use it 8 times a year I don't care about a minor inconvenience that takes less than a minute so nope I wouldn't bother getting one. It doesn't make any sense for someone like me to have EZPass.

Me, I wouldn't want to inconvenience the line with the time it would take me to get out my wallet, pull out cash, and then put my wallet away.  And since I rarely use cash, factor in time for change to be made as well, if they don't take cards (although when I crossed the Blue Water Bridge, I could have put my card away then and there rather than wait for the line at customs, since it took them that long to process the card and raise the gate).

We're not saying E-ZPass only, though.  I'm talking whatever AET they want, as long as they make it compatible.

I find the assertion that removing the plaza and gates and replacing with AET and toll-by-plate to not have an effect on congestion to be totally unfounded.  One merely needs to drive the Thruway through Williamsville or heck, even take a drive over the GWB to see the drastic effects AET/Toll-by-Plate can have on congestion.

To say that traffic is going to remain the same is just irrational.

I don't think most of us wanting interoperability are pushing for full AET, however.

That's a thing too, it's well known that the bridge is $4 to cross so having your money ready ahead of time is key so you wouldn't have to fiddle around with your wallet. You can use a card at the Mac, as well as Apple and Google Pay. It's been 21 years since I've been to Canada so I'm not sure about any of the International bridges other than what I would read online about them.

[rhen_var]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

What difference would it make to you if they did add support for EZ-Pass?  You're so adamant that they shouldn't add it but you haven't given any good reason why not other than "I personally don't like it."  I'm sure there are a couple other old grumpy people that hate change and would be angry that other people would gain the option to just drive through the toll barrier instead of being forced to stop and hand over $4, but I would bet most normal people would be elated, and pick up an EZ-Pass for themselves if they don't already have one (which many Michiganders do).

[Flint1979]

We don't support EZ Pass because we don't have toll roads. What difference does it make it any of you if Michigan has EZ Pass or not? And how many people on here actually use the Mackinac Bridge? They aren't getting EZ Pass no matter how much people bicker about it. It's not happening.

What difference would it make to you if they did add support for EZ-Pass?  You're so adamant that they shouldn't add it but you haven't given any good reason why not other than "I personally don't like it."  I'm sure there are a couple other old grumpy people that hate change and would be angry that other people would gain the option to just drive through the toll barrier instead of being forced to stop and hand over $4, but I would bet most normal people would be elated, and pick up an EZ-Pass for themselves if they don't already have one (which many Michiganders do).

They aren't going to be adding EZPass so it doesn't make any difference. It's not going to benefit anyone by adding it, first of all they would need to rebuild the toll plaza, secondly it's not going to stop congestion ON the bridge. I'm talking from knowledge not just what I think. People already do drive through the toll plaza instead of being forced to stop and hand over $4 it's called MacPass. Nobody is upset over having to stop for less than 30 seconds to pay a toll and then move on. Having EZPass on the Mackinac Bridge would compete with their own MacPass. The Mackinac Bridge Authority isn't out to screw themselves over.

[Scott5114]

Having EZPass on the Mackinac Bridge would compete with their own MacPass. The Mackinac Bridge Authority isn't out to screw themselves over.

The way interop agreements usually work would mean anyone with a MacPass would gain the benefit of being able to use it on any road in the E-ZPass zone. So there would not really be "competition" per se (other than to the extent that various flavors of E-ZPass offer different discounts on different facilities).

Now what would be really hilarious is if MacPass snubbed E-ZPass and joined the Pikepass zone instead.