PA Turnpike to Crack Down on Speeding Through EZ-Pass Lanes

[PHLBOS]

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/02/24/pa-turnpike-to-crack-down-on-speeding-through-ez-pass-lanes/

What the news story overlooks is that similar-type lanes in other states (neighboring NJ being one of them) have higher posted speed limits (10 or 15 mph).

The question here do these suspensions or revocations of EZ-Pass accounts apply only to PA Turnpike EZ-Pass accounts or any EZ-Pass account regardless of where it's based?

[SectorZ]

What a pile of BS. A lot of states have 25, and I don't hear of anyone dying due to it.

[PHLBOS]

A lot of states have 25, and I don't hear of anyone dying due to it.

NY's (at least for the Thruway) non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 5 mph (same as PA).

MD's, ME's & RI's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 10 mph.

NJ's & MA's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 15 mph.

Out of curiousity, which states have a posted 25 mph limit for a single toll lane (that was originally a cash or exact-change/token lane) that was not widened into either an EZ-Pass (or equivalent) Express or Only lanes?

[cl94]

A lot of states have 25, and I don't hear of anyone dying due to it.

NY's (at least for the Thruway) non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 5 mph (same as PA).

MD's, ME's & RI's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 10 mph.

NJ's & MA's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 15 mph.

Out of curiousity, which states have a posted 25 mph limit for a single toll lane (that was originally a cash or exact-change/token lane) that was not widened into either an EZ-Pass (or equivalent) Express or Only lanes?

New York occasionally has 20 mph lanes if and only if it's on the outside lane(s) of the toll plaza at the end that doesn't have the building. Several toll plazas have at least one. While most of these are widened, dedicated lanes, some use conventional, unmodified lanes that could still handle cash transactions if required. Nothing in Ohio or east that I know of has 25+ mph lanes that aren't purpose-built because of clearances and people crossing the lanes.

[Pete from Boston]

I got a letter for speeding through the Tappan Zee 5-mph lane a couple of years ago.  At the time I drove through the left 35-mph lanes every week or two, but construction on the bridge prevented me from getting left in time.  I went through fast out of habit, only realizing it when it was too late.  They threatened me with something or other (probably revocation) if I did it again.

[cpzilliacus]

At the I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Maryland) toll barrier, the limits are signed as 15 and 10 MPH on E-ZPass only lanes that used to be conventional cash lanes.  At the I-695 (F.S. Key Bridge) toll barrier, the E-ZPass lane is posted for 30 MPH.

On Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road), the E-ZPass only lanes are posted for 35 MPH.

[Duke87]

5 MPH is ridiculously slow. Okay, so toll collectors occasionally have to walk across the lanes. So what? Pedestrians cross streets with 30 MPH limits without the assistance of a signal all the time. And they aren't wearing reflective vests, nor do they have the benefit of being able to cross only one lane at a time.

This kind of bullshit is why people don't take speed limits seriously.

[SectorZ]

A lot of states have 25, and I don't hear of anyone dying due to it.

NY's (at least for the Thruway) non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 5 mph (same as PA).

MD's, ME's & RI's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 10 mph.

NJ's & MA's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 15 mph.

Out of curiousity, which states have a posted 25 mph limit for a single toll lane (that was originally a cash or exact-change/token lane) that was not widened into either an EZ-Pass (or equivalent) Express or Only lanes?

New Hampshire. https://goo.gl/maps/1uFzq

Virginia. http://www.dullesgreenway.com/virginia-e-zpass ("Always adhere to the posted 35-mph speed limit through the toll plaza.")

[PHLBOS]

New York occasionally has 20 mph lanes if and only if it's on the outside lane(s) of the toll plaza at the end that doesn't have the building.

I'm well aware of such (ones at the Tappan Zee Bridge have a posted 35 mph limit).  I wasn't referring to those lanes; I was strictly referring to lanes that can either be used as or were originally cash/exact change/token lanes pre-EZ-Pass.

Nothing in Ohio or east that I know of has 25+ mph lanes that aren't purpose-built because of clearances and people crossing the lanes.

Precisely, which is why I asked Cjzani to elaborate on such.

[Brandon]

What a pile of BS. A lot of states have 25, and I don't hear of anyone dying due to it.

ISTHA uses 15 mph where they are mixed in with the coin baskets or manual lanes, but it is not enforced.  Most folks do 30-40 through them with the occasional one going 50+.  I've maybe seen about 1% of drivers actually slow to 15 mph.

Examples:

https://goo.gl/maps/10tdl
https://goo.gl/maps/xGBmf
https://goo.gl/maps/rnpPR

They have a few were all must come to a stop due to lack of space:
https://goo.gl/maps/vjOJ1

The newer, I-Pass (EZPass) only ones have no limit other than that on the tollway or ramp they're on:
https://goo.gl/maps/vCsbq

[1995hoo]

At the I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Maryland) toll barrier, the limits are signed as 15 and 10 MPH on E-ZPass only lanes that used to be conventional cash lanes.  At the I-695 (F.S. Key Bridge) toll barrier, the E-ZPass lane is posted for 30 MPH.

On Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road), the E-ZPass only lanes are posted for 35 MPH.

In my experience, the average speed through those 35-mph lanes on the Dulles Toll Road is at least 60 mph, which is actually somewhat dangerous because you still get the occasional confused person who didn't pay any attention to the signs and comes to a stop wanting to pay cash. (From what I have seen, more often than not such drivers probably don't speak English well, if at all, and so probably didn't understand the signs. It'd be useful if there were some internationally-accepted symbol denoting "No Cash.")

[cpzilliacus]

At the I-895 (Baltimore Harbor Tunnel, Maryland) toll barrier, the limits are signed as 15 and 10 MPH on E-ZPass only lanes that used to be conventional cash lanes.  At the I-695 (F.S. Key Bridge) toll barrier, the E-ZPass lane is posted for 30 MPH.

On Va. 267 (Dulles Toll Road), the E-ZPass only lanes are posted for 35 MPH.

In my experience, the average speed through those 35-mph lanes on the Dulles Toll Road is at least 60 mph, which is actually somewhat dangerous because you still get the occasional confused person who didn't pay any attention to the signs and comes to a stop wanting to pay cash. (From what I have seen, more often than not such drivers probably don't speak English well, if at all, and so probably didn't understand the signs. It'd be useful if there were some internationally-accepted symbol denoting "No Cash.")

I have done a lot of work on the Dulles Toll Road over the years, and population that uses it is indeed extremely diverse (including more than a few drivers that do not speak English (or presumably read English)). 

I always slow to 45 or less (angering the drivers behind me) because of the risk of last-minute lane changers, who realize that there is a toll ahead and that they do not have  a transponder. IMO, more of a problem westbound - the eastbound cash paying drivers have "learned" to keep right for the toll barrier.

Begs the question - why is MWAA paying people to collect cash tolls these days?

[cl94]

New York occasionally has 20 mph lanes if and only if it's on the outside lane(s) of the toll plaza at the end that doesn't have the building.

I'm well aware of such (ones at the Tappan Zee Bridge have a posted 35 mph limit).  I wasn't referring to those lanes; I was strictly referring to lanes that can either be used as or were originally cash/exact change/token lanes pre-EZ-Pass.

Nothing in Ohio or east that I know of has 25+ mph lanes that aren't purpose-built because of clearances and people crossing the lanes.

Precisely, which is why I asked Cjzani to elaborate on such.

A few of the 20 lanes are unmodified cash lanes that still are used for cash payments. I can think of a couple near Buffalo.

[bzakharin]

What I'd like to know is why there is a difference between the Egg Harbor and Pleasantville express tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway. The former don't have any speed restrictions posted (the general speed limit there is 65) while the latter are posted 45 MPH (the general speed limit is 55).

[dcbjms]

MD's, ME's & RI's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 10 mph.

Hmm, since it's the Newport Bridge in that case (the only one with EZ-Pass installed), I wonder if it has no express EZ-Pass lanes or what the deal is with that.  I only really remember crossing it before/without EZ-Pass.

[jeffandnicole]

Shortly after NJ started taking EZ Pass and raised the limit to 15 mph, they started cracking down on speeders.  While they never publically mentioned the speed at which would generate an issue, it quickly became obvious that anyone going 35 mph or greater thru the lane was sent a letter informing them of their speed.  This continued for a few years at most.  I forget if anyone ever did get their account suspended. 

What I'd like to know is why there is a difference between the Egg Harbor and Pleasantville express tolls on the Atlantic City Expressway. The former don't have any speed restrictions posted (the general speed limit there is 65) while the latter are posted 45 MPH (the general speed limit is 55).

I think it comes down to sightlines and room.  The Pleasantville toll plaza is in the middle of a curve, and there's very little room for error.

While the speed limit at the Egg Harbor plaza is 65 mph, they don't publicize it via signage (unlike, say, DE 1 which is clearly signed 65 mph in the Express lanes).

[PHLBOS]

MD's, ME's & RI's non-express EZ-Pass lanes are posted at 10 mph.

Hmm, since it's the Newport Bridge in that case (the only one with EZ-Pass installed), I wonder if it has no express EZ-Pass lanes or what the deal is with that.  I only really remember crossing it before/without EZ-Pass.

It actually does have an Express EZ-Pass lane for each direction (note the pavement advisories).

[vdeane]

New York occasionally has 20 mph lanes if and only if it's on the outside lane(s) of the toll plaza at the end that doesn't have the building.

I'm well aware of such (ones at the Tappan Zee Bridge have a posted 35 mph limit).  I wasn't referring to those lanes; I was strictly referring to lanes that can either be used as or were originally cash/exact change/token lanes pre-EZ-Pass.

That's EXACTLY the situation that the 20 mph Thruway lanes are in (except at exit 17, but those plazas aren't even ten years old yet).  The 35 mph lanes at the Tappan Zee have more in common with the ORT lanes at Woodbury than anything else.  They're a different beast from the ones that were resigned from 5 to 20 simply because they happen to be at the opposite end of the plaza.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.01223,-77.438963,3a,75y,40.16h,90t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sGfdot_lGMvZjWpgt4cVxvg!2e0

5 MPH is ridiculously slow. Okay, so toll collectors occasionally have to walk across the lanes. So what? Pedestrians cross streets with 30 MPH limits without the assistance of a signal all the time. And they aren't wearing reflective vests, nor do they have the benefit of being able to cross only one lane at a time.

This kind of bullshit is why people don't take speed limits seriously.

Most streets don't have booths and canopies that make it hard to see a pedestrian until you're right on top of them.  But 5mph is a bit much.  Some cars don't even have speedometers that go that low!  10 might be better.

[PHLBOS]

Most streets don't have booths and canopies that make it hard to see a pedestrian until you're right on top of them.  But 5mph is a bit much.  Some cars don't even have speedometers that go that low!  10 might be better.

The bottom line & the general consensus here seems to be that while speeding through a narrow toll booth may be an issue; a posted speed of 5 mph for these lanes/booths is way too low.  A posted speed of 15 would be more reasonable for these situations.

[Zeffy]

There are 5 MPH signs posted at the New Hope Lambertville Toll Bridge on US 202. The GMSV doesn't show them, so I guess they are a semi-recent addition, but they are definitely there for all lanes (including the EZPass only ones).