Toll roads toss the coins for electronic methods

[cpzilliacus]

Washington Post: Toll roads toss the coins for electronic methods

John Townsend, a spokesman for AAA Mid-Atlantic, didn't remember blowing through a tollbooth on a Friday evening in September, despite an official letter from the E-ZPass Maryland Service Center charging him with the infraction. The note included a bill for $3.25 in unpaid tolls, plus a stern warning: Failure to pay could result in additional penalties, suspension of his car registration and, finally, a collection agency on his tail.

After consulting his travel calendar and determining his family's movements on that fateful night, he cracked the mystery. His son had driven the car on Maryland's Intercounty Connector, an all-electronic toll road. According to Papa Townsend, his child's defense was, "I didn't know that was a toll road."

[kphoger]

My boss has done that in the Dallas area–driven a rental car on a toll road without knowing it was a toll road until they were passing underneath the cameras.

[wxfree]

I've heard of people doing that, and claiming there was no sign.  I know some people who, when driving, don't know the speed limit, or what road it is, or what road's coming up.  I can't imagine driving like that, just moving in a direction without keeping a sense of what's around, but it seems to be the way some people do it.  At the same time, maybe toll roads should be marked a little better than a little white tab above a sign.  In Texas, the route markers have different colors, which helps.  I tell my younger friends, who mostly don't pay that much attention, that it's their responsibility to know where the toll roads are, how much they cost, and what forms of payment are accepted.  They still end up with unexpected toll bills because they just won't pay attention.  Regarding the topic at hand, I guess it's better to get a bill in the mail later than to have to unexpectedly stop and dig for coins.

[cpzilliacus]

I've heard of people doing that, and claiming there was no sign.  I know some people who, when driving, don't know the speed limit, or what road it is, or what road's coming up.  I can't imagine driving like that, just moving in a direction without keeping a sense of what's around, but it seems to be the way some people do it.  At the same time, maybe toll roads should be marked a little better than a little white tab above a sign.  In Texas, the route markers have different colors, which helps.  I tell my younger friends, who mostly don't pay that much attention, that it's their responsibility to know where the toll roads are, how much they cost, and what forms of payment are accepted.  They still end up with unexpected toll bills because they just won't pay attention.  Regarding the topic at hand, I guess it's better to get a bill in the mail later than to have to unexpectedly stop and dig for coins.

Maryland's first cashless toll road, Md. 200 (ICC), is very well signed at both ends and at all entrances. 

[colinstu]

I don't believe the clueless "I didn't know" excuse for a second. Neither does a good cop when it comes to speed limits (yeah... non of that "warning" crap).

Faster we can get 100% ETC (or ORT if you'd rather call it that) the better. So sick of toll booths littering the place and forcing drivers to slow down / encourage sloppy interchange design.

[jeffandnicole]

At the same time, maybe toll roads should be marked a little better than a little white tab above a sign.

The several signs marking it as a toll road could crash through some drivers' windshields and they would still miss them.

[vdeane]

Regarding the topic at hand, I guess it's better to get a bill in the mail later than to have to unexpectedly stop and dig for coins.

Except then you pay $25 for a $0.25 toll.

What's best is ORT lanes with a manned booth on the side... then, even if you don't have change, you could at least pay with bills or a credit card.

I don't believe the clueless "I didn't know" excuse for a second. Neither does a good cop when it comes to speed limits (yeah... non of that "warning" crap).

Faster we can get 100% ETC (or ORT if you'd rather call it that) the better. So sick of toll booths littering the place and forcing drivers to slow down / encourage sloppy interchange design.

Only when they come up with a way that doesn't force non-transponder users to pay a lot more.  Any rate difference should be no larger than the current transponder discount on mixed toll roads.

[jeffandnicole]

Regarding the topic at hand, I guess it's better to get a bill in the mail later than to have to unexpectedly stop and dig for coins.

Except then you pay $25 for a $0.25 toll.

What's best is ORT lanes with a manned booth on the side... then, even if you don't have change, you could at least pay with bills or a credit card.

I don't believe the clueless "I didn't know" excuse for a second. Neither does a good cop when it comes to speed limits (yeah... non of that "warning" crap).

Faster we can get 100% ETC (or ORT if you'd rather call it that) the better. So sick of toll booths littering the place and forcing drivers to slow down / encourage sloppy interchange design.

Only when they come up with a way that doesn't force non-transponder users to pay a lot more.  Any rate difference should be no larger than the current transponder discount on mixed toll roads.

Welcome to the 21st century.

The cost of putting a toll collector out there goes way beyond the employee.  Way, way beyond.  Signage, booths, multiple collectors (one collector isn't going to work 24/7), money collection, accounting, security, buildings, bathrooms, parking, congestion, training, lighting, barriers, rumble strips, uniforms, etc.

I'm sure I forgot a dozen or so things.

[StogieGuy7]

Agreed.  Technology has gotten to the point where the toll taker is rapidly becoming the telephone operator of the 21st century.  That said, I still think that busy exits/toll plazas can afford to have a manned toll booth or two off to the side to accept cash.  And, you still have a few people who don't have credit or debit cards to connect with a transponder, nor may they have internet access on a regular basis.   It will take time to totally wean 100% of the populace from the concept of paying cash for tolls. 

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.   Now, many could do a much better job of actually posting the toll amount.  But they're marked well enough. 

If you're so stupid as to be unable to read signs, perhaps you need to go back to Mrs. Puff's Boating Academy for a few lessons. 

[NE2]

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.   Now, many could do a much better job of actually posting the toll amount.  But they're marked well enough. 

No signs here warning you that the toll road begins ahead: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=28.338486,-81.508306&spn=0.034599,0.066047&gl=us&t=m&z=15&layer=c&cbll=28.338486,-81.508306&panoid=NONkksyE9qkjMfPMIrYaNA&cbp=12,103.86,,0,2.11

[US81]

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.   Now, many could do a much better job of actually posting the toll amount.  But they're marked well enough. 

But many are not marked until the last exit, with a "Last Free Exit" tab and no other warning. If traffic won't let you over, you have a choice of some illegal and/or unsafe move or the poorly marked tollway.

Others have free one-way access roads that end without warning, forcing drivers onto the tollroad.

[cpzilliacus]

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.   Now, many could do a much better job of actually posting the toll amount.  But they're marked well enough. 

But many are not marked until the last exit, with a "Last Free Exit" tab and no other warning. If traffic won't let you over, you have a choice of some illegal and/or unsafe move or the poorly marked tollway.

In Maryland, the signs read "TOLL ROAD" or "LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL" ahead of all toll roads and toll crossings.

Others have free one-way access roads that end without warning, forcing drivers onto the tollroad.

That seems like a matter that should be discussed with  the appropriate elected officials.

[Alps]

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.   Now, many could do a much better job of actually posting the toll amount.  But they're marked well enough. 

But many are not marked until the last exit, with a "Last Free Exit" tab and no other warning. If traffic won't let you over, you have a choice of some illegal and/or unsafe move or the poorly marked tollway.

In Maryland, the signs read "TOLL ROAD" or "LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL" ahead of all toll roads and toll crossings.

Others have free one-way access roads that end without warning, forcing drivers onto the tollroad.

That seems like a matter that should be discussed with  the appropriate elected officials.

Yes, but this disproves your assertion that all toll roads are clearly marked. Even if all of them are marked - and I know of many counterexamples (Ohio River toll bridges, for example) - the markings are often very difficult to make out. The word "toll'' gets buried on Garden State Parkway signs, for example, even though most people know by heart that that's a toll road. You also don't currently see "toll" on NJ Turnpike signs. All of that is fortunately changing with a recognizable yellow "Toll" banner, but these aren't the last roads to be upgraded.

[NE2]

Also, in Florida, the toll shields are used on free portions. For example, the western 4 miles of SR 528 are free (and a useful local route), despite being maintained by the Turnpike and signed with a toll shield. There is a 'last exit before toll', but the signs approaching on side roads are the same whether you're approaching a free or toll portion.

The free portion includes the International Drive tourist area: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=28.423545,-81.46049&spn=0.01721,0.033023&gl=us&t=m&z=16&layer=c&cbll=28.423545,-81.46049&panoid=918-7Od19lkfaM3BQ08lFA&cbp=12,118.27,,1,1.35
It wouldn't surprise me if many tourists take a different route because they think they will be charged a toll to get to I-4.

[Alps]

Also, in Florida, the toll shields are used on free portions. For example, the western 4 miles of SR 528 are free (and a useful local route), despite being maintained by the Turnpike and signed with a toll shield. There is a 'last exit before toll', but the signs approaching on side roads are the same whether you're approaching a free or toll portion.

Same strategy Garden State Parkway uses on the free sections.

[vdeane]

Agreed.  Technology has gotten to the point where the toll taker is rapidly becoming the telephone operator of the 21st century.

But then how do you deal with travelers out of the area?  If I go to Texas, I can't use a toll road without paying an arm and a leg in fees.

EDIT: Don't even have to go that far.  The A-25 bridge in Montreal is just two hours away.

[wxfree]

But then how do you deal with travelers out of the area?  If I go to Texas, I can't use a toll road without paying an arm and a leg in fees.

EDIT: Don't even have to go that far.  The A-25 bridge in Montreal is just two hours away.

I'd like to see a way to pay on the road.  With modern technology we don't need expensive human toll collectors.  The sensors could measure the vehicle and display the toll amount on a screen, and the machine could accept coins, bills, and credit cards.  The pay lanes would be off to the side, segregated from the full-speed main lanes.  This gives you a choice.  If you don't have a tag and don't have money, or there's a long line in the pay lanes, or you just don't want to stop, you continue on the main lanes and get a bill later.  If you don't want to pay more, or are driving a car that's rented or borrowed, you stop and pay.  This gives maximum choice: use a tag, stop and pay, or get a bill.  The Austin area toll roads present this choice until the end of the year, when all cash collection will be removed.  Is it really so onerous to replace attended toll booths with automated machines?

[deathtopumpkins]

Also, in Florida, the toll shields are used on free portions. For example, the western 4 miles of SR 528 are free (and a useful local route), despite being maintained by the Turnpike and signed with a toll shield. There is a 'last exit before toll', but the signs approaching on side roads are the same whether you're approaching a free or toll portion.

Some signs approaching the road do differentiate, like this one right after the Florida's Turnpike toll plaza: http://goo.gl/maps/tZmUp
The shield for west 528 is a design I've never seen before - a Toll FL shield with the toll banner blank white, while the shield for east 528 is the standard toll shield. And on 528 itself, heading east, the advance signs for Exit 4 do have "LAST EXIT BEFORE TOLL" banners, but the sign at the exit itself does not.

[NE2]

Some signs approaching the road do differentiate, like this one right after the Florida's Turnpike toll plaza: http://goo.gl/maps/tZmUp
The shield for west 528 is a design I've never seen before - a Toll FL shield with the toll banner blank white, while the shield for east 528 is the standard toll shield.

Whoa. I never take the Turnpike there, but I've been all over the surface roads, so that's probably the only one. (Even stranger: the overheads before that do it on both shields, with a text TOLL to the left on the right sign.)

Miami's toll roads have a bunch of shields with the toll removed: https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ll=25.812718,-80.232189&spn=0.017617,0.033023&gl=us&t=m&layer=c&cbll=25.8123,-80.232173&panoid=FG6XxyYMJDujUq-oboI0wQ&cbp=12,40.63,,2,0.37&z=16

And then up near Pensacola a two-lane surface road (that eventually leads to a toll bridge) is signed as Toll 281:

[Revive 755]

As for the "I didn't know it was a toll road" excuse: I call bullshit on that one.  I can't think of a toll road or bridge that isn't clearly marked as such.  At least not in the USA.

I can think of a few former facilities that were not well marked - though they all had manned booth:

1) The IA 394 bridge into Missouri:  Seems the first sign warning of a toll bridge on the Iowa approach was shortly before the bridge where there was no good place to turn around.

2) The McKinley Bridge at St. Louis

3) The IL 14/IN 66 Wabash River bridge

As for current facilities, I've heard that the IL 141/IN 62 Wabash River bridge has no warning that it is a tag only crossing.

Also, in Florida, the toll shields are used on free portions.

The IDOT maintained free section of SB I-355 between I-290 and Army Trail Road also has the "Toll" banners on the entrances from I-290 and US 20.

[theline]

I can see the confusion some places in knowing whether one is turning onto a toll road. Why can't everyone make it as clear as we do in Indiana?

[hbelkins]

But then how do you deal with travelers out of the area?  If I go to Texas, I can't use a toll road without paying an arm and a leg in fees.

I drove on the Bush Turnpike in Dallas a few years ago. I'm still waiting for my bill.

[wxfree]

I drove on the Bush Turnpike in Dallas a few years ago. I'm still waiting for my bill.

Getting a bill from NTTA depends on the number of transactions (toll points passed through).  In order to avoid wasting money mailing bills for small amounts, they don't bill for fewer than 5 transactions.  The practices are explained here  https://www.ntta.org/custinfo/Pages/Billing-and-Payment.aspx

[realjd]

Agreed.  Technology has gotten to the point where the toll taker is rapidly becoming the telephone operator of the 21st century.

But then how do you deal with travelers out of the area?  If I go to Texas, I can't use a toll road without paying an arm and a leg in fees.

EDIT: Don't even have to go that far.  The A-25 bridge in Montreal is just two hours away.

The Florida system isn't too terrible on their all-electronic toll roads in Miami. A SunPass transponder gets discounts on tolls. A free online SunPass account with your tag number gets you regular toll rates. License plates not associated with a free SunPass account are billed toll rates plus a small administrative fee ($2.50/month) . The website has an easy mechanism to time limit license plates to make it easy to tie rental cars to your SunPass account, plus they have agreements with all the major rental agencies.

Is it more of a hassle for tourists? Yes. But it saves significant amounts of money that can be reinvested into the road infrastructure.

[KEVIN_224]

For us in Connecticut, the closest toll road is I-90/Massachusetts Turnpike. Once you hit Hartford, the pull through signs simply say "I-84 EAST | BOSTON." However, no mention is made of any tolls until you're close to Exit 3 in Sturbridge, MA (US Route 20). Only in that area do the signs say "TOLL ROAD":

http://goo.gl/maps/CliRz