I just drove over the RI-138 Claiborne Pell Bridge from Jamestown to Newport today and enjoyed a new high-speed EZ-Pass lane. I'm fairly certain this was not in place when I used the bridge last summer. I was wondering if anyone knew exactly how long they had been open. Also, were they really warranted? Don't get me wrong, I love the convenience, but did traffic levels necessitate building them?
They activated the "high speed" EZ-Pass Lane on the Newport Bridge a couple of weeks ago. I suspect the reason for putting the lane in was not to address traffic backups, but to reduce labor costs.
Now if we could only get more of those for the Mass Pike!
The high-speed lanes will appeal to and appease the locals that use the bridge on the daily. Many tourists coming into Newport tend to clog the cash lanes, which must drive the locals crazy!
Quote from: southshore720 on July 11, 2012, 01:28:48 AM
Now if we could only get more of those for the Mass Pike!
Don't hold your breath for those, or for that matter for ORT. The union that represents the toll-takers is too powerful. Why do you think there are no exact-change lanes at exits 15, 18-19-20 or at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel toll booths? That's right, the union. Any form of ATC means loss of jobs. The union screamed bloody murder when FastLane appeared and got the exact-change lanes removed to keep employment essentially the same, but they're not going to let it go any farther than that without a full-scale war.
Quote from: SidS1045 on July 11, 2012, 02:29:20 PM
Quote from: southshore720 on July 11, 2012, 01:28:48 AM
Now if we could only get more of those for the Mass Pike!
Don't hold your breath for those, or for that matter for ORT. The union that represents the toll-takers is too powerful. Why do you think there are no exact-change lanes at exits 15, 18-19-20 or at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel toll booths? That's right, the union. Any form of ATC means loss of jobs. The union screamed bloody murder when FastLane appeared and got the exact-change lanes removed to keep employment essentially the same, but they're not going to let it go any farther than that without a full-scale war.
The NJ union is keeping manual tolls in place here - pretty sure the NJ Turnpike Authority wanted ORT by now.
Quote from: SidS1045 on July 11, 2012, 02:29:20 PM
Quote from: southshore720 on July 11, 2012, 01:28:48 AM
Now if we could only get more of those for the Mass Pike!
Don't hold your breath for those, or for that matter for ORT. The union that represents the toll-takers is too powerful. Why do you think there are no exact-change lanes at exits 15, 18-19-20 or at the Sumner and Ted Williams tunnel toll booths? That's right, the union. Any form of ATC means loss of jobs. The union screamed bloody murder when FastLane appeared and got the exact-change lanes removed to keep employment essentially the same, but they're not going to let it go any farther than that without a full-scale war.
With due respect to your opinions about toll takers (and I'm not defending them either), there a far more practical reason for eliminating the "exact change" at the Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels tolls. The toll is now $3.50 for passenger cars - how many people routinely carry that much change with them? And there are EZ-Pass only lanes at all the locations you mentioned (not ORT, but better than nothing).
As for ORT, my spies have told me that MassDOT is in the final stages of developing a project to totally eliminate the toll booths on the Tobin Bridge and replace them with an ORT system. If you don't have an EZ-Pass transponder, the system will take a picture of your license plate. Not having a transponder will not be considered a violation, but you will eventually get a bill in the mail. Toll rates haven't been announced yet, but you can bet the "Bill By Mail" option (as they're calling it) will be much more expensive than for EZ-Pass users.
I'm expecting there will be strong resistance to ORT on the Tobin Bridge from both the toll takers union and the "anti-Big Brother" types as well. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold once the work is let for bids - which should be within the next two months.
It will be a shame to see the toll booth on the Tobin Bridge go, considering its uniqueness. I know of no other bridge that has a toll booth in the middle of the structure.
Quote from: Duke87 on July 11, 2012, 09:36:42 PM
It will be a shame to see the toll booth on the Tobin Bridge go, considering its uniqueness. I know of no other bridge that has a toll booth in the middle of the structure.
Don't you live much closer to the Henry Hudson Parkway bridge?
Quote from: Duke87 on July 11, 2012, 09:36:42 PM
It will be a shame to see the toll booth on the Tobin Bridge go, considering its uniqueness. I know of no other bridge that has a toll booth in the middle of the structure.
Technically, the Tobin Bridge is two structures - the main cantilever span across the Mystic River and the smaller truss span (sometimes called the "Little Tobin") over Charlestown. But I get your point.
How fast is "high speed?"
Too bad the Fast Lane branding will be gone well before any high-speed toll would be in place in Mass......they could have offered Fast Lane and Even Faster Lane or something. :P
Quote from: bugo on July 12, 2012, 02:58:12 PM
How fast is "high speed?"
Posted speed limit on at open road toll gantries:
Maryland's Route 200 (55);
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think);
Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
I-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
I understand that the Mark IV technology used by the E-ZPass IAG allows reading of passing vehicles at
much higher speeds, though I have not conducted any tests myself.
Quote from: Steve on July 11, 2012, 07:34:37 PM
The NJ union is keeping manual tolls in place here - pretty sure the NJ Turnpike Authority wanted ORT by now.
Isn't the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) going to all-electronic tolling on the Atlantic City Expressway in the relatively near future?
With the N.J. Turnpike Authority to follow - at least on the Garden State Parkway?
Quote from: SidS1045 on July 11, 2012, 02:29:20 PM
Don't hold your breath for those, or for that matter for ORT. The union that represents the toll-takers is too powerful.
There were many who thought the unions representing railroad employees would
never allow their employers to get rid of firemen on Diesel-electric locomotives as the era of steam came to a close, and for a while, there were firemen on the Diesels, but eventually those jobs
were eliminated.
Edit: Neglected to type the word
never above, which I have now added.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 12, 2012, 07:57:57 PM
Quote from: bugo on July 12, 2012, 02:58:12 PM
How fast is "high speed?"
Posted speed limit on at open road toll gantries:
Maryland's Route 200 (55);
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think);
Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
I-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
I understand that the Mark IV technology used by the E-ZPass IAG allows reading of passing vehicles at much higher speeds, though I have not conducted any tests myself.
Not sure, but I seem to recall both DE 1 toll plaza ORT lanes being 65 mph.
Also, the ORT lanes on I-95 in New Hampshire are 65 mph, and the ORT lanes on VA 168 in Chesapeake, VA are 55 (only other two I know of)
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on July 12, 2012, 08:37:55 PM
Not sure, but I seem to recall both DE 1 toll plaza ORT lanes being 65 mph.
Have not been through there in a
long time, so I defer to your knowledge.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on July 12, 2012, 08:37:55 PM
Also, the ORT lanes on I-95 in New Hampshire are 65 mph, and the ORT lanes on VA 168 in Chesapeake, VA are 55 (only other two I know of)
Have not driven on I-95 north of Connecticut since the 1970's (though I did make it to Houlton, Maine then), so I defer to you on that as well.
I think I recall the Va. 168 speed limit as being 55 MPH all the way to the N.C. border.
I believe the Will Rogers (I-44 between Tulsa and Oklahoma City) has 75mph advisory signs for its electronic toll collection, matching the speed limit.
Quote from: Steve on July 11, 2012, 10:47:36 PM
Quote from: Duke87 on July 11, 2012, 09:36:42 PM
It will be a shame to see the toll booth on the Tobin Bridge go, considering its uniqueness. I know of no other bridge that has a toll booth in the middle of the structure.
Don't you live much closer to the Henry Hudson Parkway bridge?
I see what you're getting at, but... while the toll booth for the Henry Hudson Bridge
is integrated with the structure, it
is not elevated. The lower level plaza has ground directly underneath it. And it's at the end of the bridge, not in the middle.
So, on two counts, not quite the same thing.
I believe at least one of the bridges on Ocean Drive in South Jersey has a toll booth in the middle.
Quote from: NE2 on July 12, 2012, 09:35:02 PM
I believe at least one of the bridges on Ocean Drive in South Jersey has a toll booth in the middle.
Yes, and the Beesley's Point Bridge still has a toll booth in the middle - but never to be used again.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 12, 2012, 08:46:35 PM
I think I recall the Va. 168 speed limit as being 55 MPH all the way to the N.C. border.
It is. Even though VDOT has recently raised all rural interstates to 70, and even bumped a lot of the urban Hampton Roads interstates up to 60/65 from 55, and even posts many miles of rural divided highways at 60, VA 168 / the Chesapeake Expressway remains at 55.
The only reasoning I can possibly think of for this is that it was constructed and is owned by the City of Chesapeake rather than the state (as is typical for state highways within cities - usually this is not the case for freeways, but 168 was originally an arterial anyway), and the city would thus have control over the speed limit. This then begs the question of whether or not Virginia law allows municipalities to designate speed limits higher than 55... Can anyone confirm this? I'd rather not have to read through the law myself.
Also, at the risk of continuing even farther off-topic, does the same reasoning apply to the new alignment of US 17 constructed in southwestern Chesapeake? It appears to be built to even higher geometric standards (not a freeway, but based on curvature and lane/shoulder widths if it were I would say interstate-standard) but is also posted at 55, whereas US 17 from Gloucester to Port Royal is posted at 60 even though one carriageway (the original 2-lane road) doesn't even have a shoulder. I don't recall whose jurisdiction the segment in question is, though knowing Virginia practices it should be the City.
If anyone wants we can split this into a new thread.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on July 12, 2012, 08:37:55 PM
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 12, 2012, 07:57:57 PM
Quote from: bugo on July 12, 2012, 02:58:12 PM
How fast is "high speed?"
Posted speed limit on at open road toll gantries:
Maryland's Route 200 (55);
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think);
Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
I-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
I understand that the Mark IV technology used by the E-ZPass IAG allows reading of passing vehicles at much higher speeds, though I have not conducted any tests myself.
Not sure, but I seem to recall both DE 1 toll plaza ORT lanes being 65 mph.
Also, the ORT lanes on I-95 in New Hampshire are 65 mph, and the ORT lanes on VA 168 in Chesapeake, VA are 55 (only other two I know of)
The ORT lanes at the northernmost mainline plaza along the GSP are also at 65 mph.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 12, 2012, 07:57:57 PM
Quote from: bugo on July 12, 2012, 02:58:12 PM
How fast is "high speed?"
Posted speed limit on at open road toll gantries:
Maryland's Route 200 (55);
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think);
Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
I-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
I understand that the Mark IV technology used by the E-ZPass IAG allows reading of passing vehicles at much higher speeds, though I have not conducted any tests myself.
I've seen 65-mph speed limits on SunPass ORT lanes in Florida on the Turnpike and the FL-417 partial beltway around Orlando. I've gone through them at 75 mph with no problems. Of course, that's a different technology from E-ZPass.
When the VA-895 Pocahontas Parkway opened, I saw an article in one of the Richmond-area papers reporting that the Virginia State Police had tested the ORT Smart Tag lanes (this was prior to Virginia joining E-ZPass) and that the toll-reading equipment worked at speeds of up to 100 mph. The article wasn't clear on whether the equipment would not work at higher speeds or whether they simply didn't exceed that speed in their testing (I presume the latter). Since Smart Tag used the same technology as E-ZPass, I assume that means the E-ZPass equipment would likewise work at up to 100 mph or more.
Back when New Jersey opened their first "Express E-ZPass" lane at the Exit 6 toll plaza–not a true ORT lane, BTW, they just widened an existing lane through the tollbooths and posted it at I believe 45 mph–there were reports in the media that they deliberately chose to say "Express" rather than "Fast" or "High-Speed" because they didn't want to suggest to E-ZPass users that it was OK to bomb through the toll plazas at full highway speed, this being prior to the opening of full ORT lanes. Not that any such thing stops people, of course; anyone who's driven on the Dulles Toll Road in Virginia has surely seen people bomb through the "E-ZPass Only" lanes at the main toll plaza near Tysons Corner at speeds in excess of 60 mph (posted limit 35 because they're converted from toll-machine lanes with the booth structure removed but a small median still in place between the two lanes). It can be quite dangerous for people to do that, too. I recall at least one time when I saw a near pileup when a carload of foreigners stopped in the E-ZPass Only lane trying to figure out where to throw their 75¢ and the people behind them were coming up at 50 mph or more. While the people who stopped were in the wrong, that's not an excuse for the drivers following behind to fail to anticipate that you might get some clod who doesn't understand the signs (and Virginia posts the purple E-ZPass sign at every single lane and doesn't use the flashing yellow light to denote E-ZPass Only).
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 13, 2012, 12:47:16 PM
I've seen 65-mph speed limits on SunPass ORT lanes in Florida on the Turnpike and the FL-417 partial beltway around Orlando. I've gone through them at 75 mph with no problems. Of course, that's a different technology from E-ZPass.
The ORT lanes on I-95 at the Hampton Tolls in New Hampshire, which is EZ-Pass, are posted for 65 mph.
Quote from: roadman on July 13, 2012, 02:20:24 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on July 13, 2012, 12:47:16 PM
I've seen 65-mph speed limits on SunPass ORT lanes in Florida on the Turnpike and the FL-417 partial beltway around Orlando. I've gone through them at 75 mph with no problems. Of course, that's a different technology from E-ZPass.
The ORT lanes on I-95 at the Hampton Tolls in New Hampshire, which is EZ-Pass, are posted for 65 mph.
Yeah, I saw that earlier in the thread and didn't see any reason to repeat what someone else had said. I don't remember whether those lanes existed the last time I went through New Hampshire.
The rental car customers are the ones getting the horrible deal in the electronic tolling craze. If I rent a car in Boston now I have to pay the original Tobin Bridge toll, plus presumably a service charge by Mass Pike, plus a service charge by the car rental company? I can easily see it being a $20-$30 toll. When I was in Florida I had to pay $45.00 for unlimited tolls (and only used about half that) because the Florida's Turnpike extension is cashless now.
Quote from: Mdcastle on August 01, 2012, 09:34:32 PM
The rental car customers are the ones getting the horrible deal in the electronic tolling craze. If I rent a car in Boston now I have to pay the original Tobin Bridge toll, plus presumably a service charge by Mass Pike, plus a service charge by the car rental company? I can easily see it being a $20-$30 toll. When I was in Florida I had to pay $45.00 for unlimited tolls (and only used about half that) because the Florida's Turnpike extension is cashless now.
As someone who's rented a car in Boston (before I moved up here), I can vouch that that is not the case up here at least. The rental car came with an E-ZPass that was just a regular old Massachusetts one and just had tolls tacked right onto your rental bill. No extra charges from the rental car company, and I don't understand what service charge you think MassDOT (MassPike hasn't existed since the 2009 reorganization) would charge you. And if you didn't want to use it you just stuck it in the bag and paid cash. There aren't any all-electronic toll roads up here.
I got tolled the actual rate, without markup, when I rented a car with a transponder from the Philadelphia airport. This covered New Jersey and New York roads.
Quote from: roadman on July 11, 2012, 08:16:55 PMWith due respect to your opinions about toll takers (and I'm not defending them either), there a far more practical reason for eliminating the "exact change" at the Sumner and Ted Williams Tunnels tolls. The toll is now $3.50 for passenger cars - how many people routinely carry that much change with them?
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were
eliminatated eliminated when the one-way toll was raised from $0.60 to $1 in August of 1989. The reasoning for doing do was due to the fact that it was easier & quicker to hand a toll collector a single rather than throwing a bunch of coins (how many actually carry $1 coins on them?) in a basket.
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8133325.html (http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-8133325.html)
I actually had a couple dollar coins on me for a few days. Then I deposited the remainder of the Canadian money from the recent Honors trip to Ottawa, so the coins went to the bank.
Almost never see American dollar coins though.
I actually have quite a few of them because that's the largest coin MBTA fare vending machines give out as change. Once or twice I've paid for a $6.75 commuter rail ticket with a $20. Ended up with 13 dollar coins as change, which were a mix of Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and some random one I'd never seen before.
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
I think I've gotten maybe 8 of them back in the last few years. mostly from vending machines which accept $5 bills.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
The fact you gots lots of change (as opposed to bills) back speaks more to the poor design of the MBTA's fare collection system then to the widespread usage of dollar coins by Americans. Most critics of the "Charile" fare system (yes, it was named after the man in the Kingston Trio song) consider the fact the machines dispense dollar coins isntead of bills to be one of the system's major shortcomings.
Quote from: roadman on August 02, 2012, 01:27:37 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
The fact you gots lots of change (as opposed to bills) back speaks more to the poor design of the MBTA's fare collection system then to the widespread usage of dollar coins by Americans. Most critics of the "Charile" fare system (yes, it was named after the man in the Kingston Trio song) consider the fact the machines dispense dollar coins isntead of bills to be one of the system's major shortcomings.
Actually, the MBTA isn't the only transit agency that dispenses $1 coins for change. In the Delaware Valley, PATCO & NJ transit machines dispenses them; SEPTA, when they had them, did as well. Also, vending machines at Post Offices dispense $1 coins for change as well.
That said, most
drivers using toll facilities don't typically have $1 coins with them unless they recently used either a postal or transit agency vending machine.
Additionally, my earlier-posted reasoning for the Mass Turnpike Authority's decision to do away w/ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel occurred well after production of the Susan B. Anthony dollar coin ceased (in 1981) but prior to the Sacagawea dollar coin entering circulation (mid '90s).
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 02:19:12 PMprior to the Sacagawea dollar coin entering circulation (mid '90s).
the Sacagawea dollar has been made since 2000. it was originally slated to enter circulation earlier, but there was some bureaucratic delay so to cover the interim need, the US started minting Anthony dollars with a 1999 date!
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
I actually have quite a few of them because that's the largest coin MBTA fare vending machines give out as change. Once or twice I've paid for a $6.75 commuter rail ticket with a $20. Ended up with 13 dollar coins as change, which were a mix of Susan B. Anthony, Sacagawea, and some random one I'd never seen before.
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
The "random ones" are probably Presidential dollars. Since 2007, the Mint has been doing a dollar series on the presidents, similarly "rolled out" as the quarters of the last 13 years.
Post offices, vending machines and transit fare machines are about the only places dollar coins are ever seen any more. As long as there is still a $1 bill, no coin will ever take hold.
Quote from: roadman on August 02, 2012, 01:27:37 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
The fact you gots lots of change (as opposed to bills) back speaks more to the poor design of the MBTA's fare collection system then to the widespread usage of dollar coins by Americans. Most critics of the "Charile" fare system (yes, it was named after the man in the Kingston Trio song) consider the fact the machines dispense dollar coins isntead of bills to be one of the system's major shortcomings.
Poor design? How would you suggest they do it better? There's no such thing (at least not that I know of) as a vending machine that dispenses cash as change. In fact I view this as an improvement over most vending machines (like for soda or candy), which dispense only up to quarters as change, no matter how much you put in there.
And yes, I do know who Charlie is. And yes I do know "Charlie on the M.T.A." It's kinda hard to live here and not know about Charlie. But my transaction in question actually has nothing to do with CharlieCards/tickets, as it was on commuter rail, which doesn't accept CharlieCards.
And by the way, this should make you happy: they're phasing out this system anyway, in favor of letting people buy tickets with their credit card on their mobile phone and having the conductor scan your screen. Which means no more getting change, if you have a smartphone.
MTA (the real MTA in NYC, that is) also dispenses dollar coins. I've ridden Metro North and all of their ticket machines dispense dollar coins.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 02:44:30 PM
There's no such thing (at least not that I know of) as a vending machine that dispenses cash as change.
gambling cashout machines. Las Vegas ones, I believe, dispense the full gamut up to $100 bills, up to a total quantity of I believe $1000*. but, you are right, that requires a separate mechanism, and it is not worth it to try to install a paper tray instead of a slightly wider coin sorter that accepts one more coin.
* I do not know for sure. My biggest cashout in a casino has been $28. I once won $62 at a gas station in Searchlight, and I redeemed the ticket at the human-operated cash register.
NJ Transit has debuted some cash dispensing ticket vending machines in certain locations.
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 02:44:30 PM
Quote from: roadman on August 02, 2012, 01:27:37 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 12:50:32 PM
This makes me believe they'd be more common than you'd think, if a major transit agency gives them out as change.
The fact you gots lots of change (as opposed to bills) back speaks more to the poor design of the MBTA's fare collection system then to the widespread usage of dollar coins by Americans. Most critics of the "Charile" fare system (yes, it was named after the man in the Kingston Trio song) consider the fact the machines dispense dollar coins isntead of bills to be one of the system's major shortcomings.
Poor design? How would you suggest they do it better? There's no such thing (at least not that I know of) as a vending machine that dispenses cash as change. In fact I view this as an improvement over most vending machines (like for soda or candy), which dispense only up to quarters as change, no matter how much you put in there.
And yes, I do know who Charlie is. And yes I do know "Charlie on the M.T.A." It's kinda hard to live here and not know about Charlie. But my transaction in question actually has nothing to do with CharlieCards/tickets, as it was on commuter rail, which doesn't accept CharlieCards.
And by the way, this should make you happy: they're phasing out this system anyway, in favor of letting people buy tickets with their credit card on their mobile phone and having the conductor scan your screen. Which means no more getting change, if you have a smartphone.
How would I change the design? Simple - just eliminate cash sales entirely (which BTW was one of the MBTA's publically stated reasons for introducting automated fare collection in the first place). That eliminates the change issue. And, if you insist on dispensing change, it can be done so in bills - look at any supermarket that has a "self-serve" checkout line. Those machines don't give change in dollar coins.
Byy the way, this matter of getting change in dollar coins is not an issue for me. I buy a monthly pass with a debit card provided by my employer - they deduct from my pay and apply the amount to the card each month.
When you bouight your commuter rail fare, the medium it was issued on is a CharileTicket - which is a one time use paper ticket. And the current fare vending machines already let use credit/debit cards to buy your tickets. So, why not just make the system totally cashless?
As for the proposed smartphone app (which probably will only work with iPhony and Dread), the T is just pi**ing their money down a hole with another wasteful gimmick. If the T were really serious about eliminating cash sales on commuter trains (even if the goal is so they can lay off still more staff), then they would put fare vending machines at all commuter rail stations AND dispense fares only on CharlieCards (the resusable RFID ones). But I guess the T's reasoning is it's better to waste $500K on a gimmick that few riders (15% by most estimates) will use rather than invest $70 million in a system that all riders can benefit from (even monthly pass holders benefit from this, as eliminating CharlieTickets in favor of the CharlieCards means passholders can now use the "swipe" system in the subway).
And my comment about "Charlie on the MTA" was meant for the benefit of people on this forum who may not be from the area.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 02, 2012, 02:55:43 PM
Quote from: deathtopumpkins on August 02, 2012, 02:44:30 PM
There's no such thing (at least not that I know of) as a vending machine that dispenses cash as change.
gambling cashout machines. Las Vegas ones, I believe, dispense the full gamut up to $100 bills, up to a total quantity of I believe $1000*. but, you are right, that requires a separate mechanism, and it is not worth it to try to install a paper tray instead of a slightly wider coin sorter that accepts one more coin.
I've seen some car wash vending machines (to purchase the wash) that dispense dollar bills for change.
Back to the original topic at hand, or at least the original location (the Newport/Pell Bridge): when did they stop accepting their old tokens... remember those?
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 09:54:02 AM
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were eliminatated
Elimitanted, you mean.
Also, the reason all these machines dispense dollar coins is because no one else will, and SOMEBODY has to use them, right?
Quote from: Steve on August 02, 2012, 10:11:57 PM
Also, the reason all these machines dispense dollar coins is because no one else will, and SOMEBODY has to use them, right?
nobody has to use them. as far as I know, nobody in an organized context uses two-dollar bills, and they're still being made. just random people who like to spend them. I know a few.
Speaking of dollar coins and $2 bills, I used $2 bills for hotel housekeeper tips and dollar coins to pay for parking at the staffed cashier booth (cash only) on a trip that I just returned home from today. I'm one of _those_ people. :P
Rental car E-ZPass tags often do involve a surcharge from the rental car company if you use it--if you use it for a toll one time on one day of a 5-day rental, they may hit you for $2.50 "service charge" for each day of the rental. Seems like a scam but they write it into their terms. I've avoided it by always bringing my own tag and adding the rental car to the account. This can be done online even in the parking lot of the rental car agency before leaving. MassPike even addresses rental cars in their FAQ; they say to simply remember to remove the rental car from your account a couple days after all transactions clear that should show.
The toll agency doesn't charge extra when you use a toll tag that comes with a rental car, however.
Rental car toll tags I have seen have usually been NY Thruway ones or Illinois ones, even on vehicles plated in other states. They must get the best deal from those providers; even when renting a car in Boston that has a toll tag I have yet to get one with a Mass toll tag. (If I can choose a car, I will usually select one with a tag anyway and then it already has the velcro installed on the windshield. The included tag can be left closed in the case and put in the glove compartment.)
Quote from: Steve on August 02, 2012, 10:11:57 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 09:54:02 AM
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were eliminatated
Elimitanted, you mean.
Actually, I meant
eliminated. I've since corrected my older post. That's what I get for typing too fast.
Quote from: agentsteel53 on August 02, 2012, 02:21:44 PMthe Sacagawea dollar has been made since 2000. it was originally slated to enter circulation earlier, but there was some bureaucratic delay so to cover the interim need, the US started minting Anthony dollars with a 1999 date!
You're right about the date, but my earlier point regarding the MTA's reasoning/rationale for removing the Sumner Tunnel ECLs are still valid. There were
NO $1 coins being minted in the US circa 1989 (when the ECLs came down). The Susie B's stopped being minted after 1981.
Quote from: cpzilliacus on July 12, 2012, 07:57:57 PM
Quote from: bugo on July 12, 2012, 02:58:12 PM
How fast is "high speed?"
Posted speed limit on at open road toll gantries:
Maryland's Route 200 (55);
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think);
Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
I-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
I understand that the Mark IV technology used by the E-ZPass IAG allows reading of passing vehicles at much higher speeds, though I have not conducted any tests myself.
N.J. Turnpike Exit 1 (50 at the toll plaza, I think):
NJ Turnpike ORT lanes are 55 mph at all 3 locations (1 & 18W are signed; 6 is not)Garden State Parkway southbound at the Pascack Valley plaza (55);
See GSP Speed Limits belowI-95/Delaware Turnpike (55);
Delaware 1/Relief Route (at Biddles Corner) (55).
DE 1 ORT lanes are 65 mph at both locationsAdditionally, speed limits at other ORTs:
AC Expressway is unsigned 65 mph at the Egg Harbor Plaza.
AC Expressway is signed 45 mph at the Pleasantville Plaza (the plaza nearest AC).
Garden State Parkway is unsigned at whatever the prevailing speed limit is (65/55/45).
I'm extremely surprised at Maryland. They have one of the poorest toll plaza EZ Pass lane setups at both the plazas on 95.
At the Perryville toll plaza, they now use the 3 left toll lanes for EZ Pass only. The plaza would appear very easily to convert to ORT, but they refuse to do it. To make matters worse, the lane painting still directs the left lane to the left EZ Pass lane only. Those who know can stay in the center lane coming up to the plaza, then get over to the other EZ Pass lanes relatively easy.
At the Baltimore Tunnel, they did convert 2 lanes to 1 ORT, but only with a 30 mph speed limit. And when there's a line of traffic, and one person slows to 30 mph, it causes everyone to slow to 30 mph. The next lane over is also used exclusively for EZ Pass also, but as above, the lane painting isn't set up to direct people to that lane very well.
At the tunnel, what I would like to see is the plaza set up so that the inner tube for each direction is for those that are using EZ Pass only, which would allow the nearby toll plaza to be more easily converted to high speed EZ Pass. For those that want to access the interchange just south of the tunnel, they would need to use a traditional toll lane and the outer tube. The current setup just creates additional congestion that could easily be eliminated.
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 03, 2012, 08:00:52 AM
Quote from: Steve on August 02, 2012, 10:11:57 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 09:54:02 AM
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were eliminatated
Elimitanted, you mean.
Actually, I meant eliminated. I've since corrected my older post. That's what I get for typing too fast.
You clearly missed the other thread.
PHLBOS's spellng error reminds me of a NHDOT goof that few people probably ever noticed. For years, the overhead exit direction sign from the C/D road off of I-93 north to I-89 north in Bow had an Interstate shield that read "INSTERSTATE".
Never was able to get a photo of it (real bad location for pulling over) before those signs were replaced in 2007.
Quote from: roadman on August 03, 2012, 08:20:09 PM
PHLBOS's spellng error reminds me of a NHDOT goof that few people probably ever noticed. For years, the overhead exit direction sign from the C/D road off of I-93 north to I-89 north in Bow had an Interstate shield that read "INSTERSTATE".
Never was able to get a photo of it (real bad location for pulling over) before those signs were replaced in 2007.
Never noticed that. In fact, on my I-93 page, none of the overhead shields have that misspelling. Unless it was the misshapen gore sign, you may have been seeing things.
(That said, I'm convinced I saw BOWNGRADE on I-89 years ago, but the sign was gone by the time I returned.)
I-89: Home of interesting misspelled signs! :D
Self-checkout registers deal out change in bills all the time. However, that mechanism isn't made for the conditions of a toll plaza or even a subway station probably--humidity extremes, temperature, tampering, etc.
A surprising number of vending machines accept the dollar coins. I remember that the NH welcome center on I-93 NB once had vending machines that took dollar coins but not bills, and if you had bills to change you first used a separate change machine to convert/break your bill into dollar coins.
Now that the APC machines have replaced most of the traditional post office vending machines, dollar coins are harder to come by at the post office.
I have yet to try a $2 bill in the grocery self checkout. I am afraid I will fry the thing.
Vending machines in Canada (somewhat annoyingly) do not accept bills. But the smallest bill they have up there is $5 - with $1 and $2 coins in common circulation, anything you're going to buy out of an ordinary vending machine can be paid for with just change and the expense and bother of installing the bill mechanism isn't worth it.
What's really crazy is vending machines that take credit cards. I've seen this at a Maine Turnpike service area... may have seen it one or two other places as well.
Those are becoming fairly common. I've seen them at plenty of rest areas, and all the vending machines at my uni accept both our ID card (dining dollars) and some credit cards. It's pretty convenient.
Quote from: Steve on August 03, 2012, 07:00:37 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 03, 2012, 08:00:52 AM
Quote from: Steve on August 02, 2012, 10:11:57 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 09:54:02 AM
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were eliminatated
Elimitanted, you mean.
Actually, I meant eliminated. I've since corrected my older post. That's what I get for typing too fast.
You clearly missed the other thread.
You're right, I did CLEARLY missed the other thread. No disrespect here, but if the thread in question is outside my areas of interest; I'm less likely to see it.
Additionally, I don't always have time to view EVERY single thread and/or post.
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 06, 2012, 08:40:50 AM
Quote from: Steve on August 03, 2012, 07:00:37 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 03, 2012, 08:00:52 AM
Quote from: Steve on August 02, 2012, 10:11:57 PM
Quote from: PHLBOS on August 02, 2012, 09:54:02 AM
ECLs for the Sumner Tunnel were eliminatated
Elimitanted, you mean.
Actually, I meant eliminated. I've since corrected my older post. That's what I get for typing too fast.
You clearly missed the other thread.
You're right, I did CLEARLY missed the other thread. No disrespect here, but if the thread in question is outside my areas of interest; I'm less likely to see it.
Additionally, I don't always have time to view EVERY single thread and/orpost.
Hey, now. I just figured everyone is interested in elimitanting trurck trarffic.
Thread resurrection - thought I would note that the speed limit across Jamestown (in between the Jamestown and Newport bridges on RI 138) has been raised from 40 to 50 MPH at some point. The "high-speed" EZ Pass lane is marked for 40 MPH.