Toll Collectors: A Disappearing Breed

[Rothman]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

[The Nature Boy]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

Forget the cost, it's just easier to go through the EZPass lane. I couldn't imagine driving around, seeing people go through the EZPass lane and NOT thinking, "gee it would be easier if I had one of those." I couldn't imagine stopping in every single toll booth along the Maine and Spaulding Turnpikes when I head down to Boston, such a time waster.

[Brandon]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

[Rothman]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

I find that very hard to believe.

[jeffandnicole]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

I find that very hard to believe.

What's very interesting is that, from what I can tell, their annual financial report never breaks down the toll revenue for cash and electronic tolling.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/e37922c6-1664-4dd9-9a7c-3ae899183a87

The report is 250 pages long, and not once could I find something that indicates how many transaction are done electronically.

[Brandon]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

I find that very hard to believe.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/about-i-pass

More than 87 percent of Tollway customers use I-PASS.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/15874/I-PASS+Facts+Figures+and+History

[Duke87]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

People who do not frequently pay tolls very often lack an EZpass account since they don't see it as worth the bother. A visitor driving a rental car would be well justified in paying cash rather than dealing with the rental agency's crazy fees to use their tag (if the rental place even offers one). It also can be difficult to maintain an EZpass account if you don't have a credit card since the other methods of payment are less convenient.

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

[Brandon]

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

Not much point around here as you save 50% over not having a transponder.  Those tolls can add up, and cash tolls at mainline plazas can be anywhere from $1.50 to $3.80 a plaza.  The transponder cuts that to $0.75 to $1.90 per mainline plaza.  Even for the occasional tollway user, the transponder makes economic sense.  ISTHA does not charge a monthly fee, and they only require a refundable $10 deposit.  If you use it occasionally, then you sink $30 at the start, $10 deposit and $20 in prepaid tolls.

As it is, I passed by a few mainline toll plazas today, and barely anyone was in the manual (cash) lanes.  The vast majority of folks, including semi trucks, went straight through the ORT lanes at the speed limit (55 mph) or above.

[US 41]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

People who do not frequently pay tolls very often lack an EZpass account since they don't see it as worth the bother. A visitor driving a rental car would be well justified in paying cash rather than dealing with the rental agency's crazy fees to use their tag (if the rental place even offers one). It also can be difficult to maintain an EZpass account if you don't have a credit card since the other methods of payment are less convenient.

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

There are also the people that hardly ever drive on toll roads since there aren't any in their area, like me, and it is just easier to pay cash then set up an account for a road I probably won't drive on again for another few years. I also don't like electronic toll roads because I get charged over a dollar for a pay by mail fee. On top of that I have to write out a check at the end of the month. I'd rather just pay right then and there so I don't have to worry about it. Plus all the all-electronic toll roads jack up their prices anyways. TX 255 used to be $2 cash to drive on. Now it is $3.99 + a $1.15 pay by mail fee. If I ever have to cross into Mexico I'll drive down to FM 1472 before I take TX 255.

[thenetwork]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

I find that very hard to believe.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/about-i-pass

More than 87 percent of Tollway customers use I-PASS.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/15874/I-PASS+Facts+Figures+and+History

The only thing that would make the "more than 85% of Tollway Customers" statement remotely plausible is if they were referring to only "Local" residents / commuters who live within 25 miles of any part of the Tollway system. 

[CtrlAltDel]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

ISTHA says that over 85% of their customers have an I-Pass or E-Z Pass.

I find that very hard to believe.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/tolls-and-i-pass/about-i-pass

More than 87 percent of Tollway customers use I-PASS.

http://www.illinoistollway.com/documents/10157/15874/I-PASS+Facts+Figures+and+History

The only thing that would make the "more than 85% of Tollway Customers" statement remotely plausible is if they were referring to only "Local" residents / commuters who live within 25 miles of any part of the Tollway system.

Best information I could find was 2010.
The Tollway processed 820 million transactions, of which 680 million were electronic (and 1.6 million were not paid). That works out to about 83%. I can only assume the percentage has gone up since then.

[Rothman]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

People who do not frequently pay tolls very often lack an EZpass account since they don't see it as worth the bother. A visitor driving a rental car would be well justified in paying cash rather than dealing with the rental agency's crazy fees to use their tag (if the rental place even offers one). It also can be difficult to maintain an EZpass account if you don't have a credit card since the other methods of payment are less convenient.

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

This is why I specifically mentioned the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that use the Thruway every day, even despite a respectable fiscal incentive to use E-ZPass (an even bigger discount through the 30-mile plan than the one offered just by having an E-ZPass).  You still see surprising numbers using the cash lanes.  Doesn't make a lick of sense.

[1995hoo]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

People who do not frequently pay tolls very often lack an EZpass account since they don't see it as worth the bother. A visitor driving a rental car would be well justified in paying cash rather than dealing with the rental agency's crazy fees to use their tag (if the rental place even offers one). It also can be difficult to maintain an EZpass account if you don't have a credit card since the other methods of payment are less convenient.

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

There are also people who still insist E-ZPass (or other ETC systems) use the "time-stamp" data from the toll collection points to issue speeding tickets, even though such stories have been thoroughly debunked. It's not in the ETC operators' own best interests to issue speeding tickets in that manner because it'd discourage people from signing up.

Then you have the guy I know in Falls Church–I'm sure I've mentioned him before–who opposes the construction of the WMATA Silver Line out to Dulles Airport and beyond and refuses to get an E-ZPass because he thinks getting one is a form of supporting the Silver Line project. Yet he still uses the Dulles Toll Road (paying cash) from time to time, even though I know he knows a good chunk of the money goes to the Silver Line construction. The guy is a bit of a conspiracy theorist. If he avoided the Dulles Toll Road entirely except in an emergency, I'd understand better, although I still don't see the point of not having an E-ZPass when you do drive on other member facilities in this part of the country.

Some people just don't understand how it works. Around 15 years ago when I first got a Virginia Smart Tag, my father–who is not at all technologically inept, especially for someone in his late 60s–initially expressed skepticism because he didn't understand "how you recharge it." He thought you had to take it somewhere and touch it to a device to add money to it. I guess he was picturing something similar to the WMATA SmarTrip card, although I'm not sure what made him picture that because he drove to work and almost never rode the subway until after he retired in 2011 or so (and he did not have a SmarTrip card until he got the Senior SmarTrip card after retiring).

Virginia now has something called the "Reload Card" to allow people who don't have credit cards to get an E-ZPass and replenish it at certain stores ( http://www.ezpassva.com/reloadcard/ ), but I don't think it's very well-publicized and it does carry a surcharge.

The people for whom I understand it making sense not to get a transponder are the people who are doing shady or illegal things and are afraid their E-ZPass records might be the subject of a subpoena someday, such as people who are cheating on their spouses and worry the toll records could become part of the divorce court proceedings. (I'm not excusing whatever behavior the people are engaging in, of course; I'm just saying I understand why they might be wary of E-ZPass, or of using toll roads in general!)

[roadman]

The people for whom I understand it making sense not to get a transponder are the people who are doing shady or illegal things and are afraid their E-ZPass records might be the subject of a subpoena someday, such as people who are cheating on their spouses and worry the toll records could become part of the divorce court proceedings.

Yet the majority of these very same people have cell phones, the usage records from which could also be the subject of a subpoena in such cases (no pun intended).  Funny how they don't seem to have a problem with that, however.

[vdeane]

My parents live in Rochester but don't have cause to travel the Thruway often.  The most regular trip is to Canandaigua, but the toll between exits 44 and 45 is only 20 cents each way.  I spend more in tolls each way to visit them than they do in an average year.  Understandably, they don't feel it makes sense to get E-ZPass and have money tied up in a toll account.

This is why I specifically mentioned the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that use the Thruway every day, even despite a respectable fiscal incentive to use E-ZPass (an even bigger discount through the 30-mile plan than the one offered just by having an E-ZPass).  You still see surprising numbers using the cash lanes.  Doesn't make a lick of sense.

If they travel exclusively between exits 25A and 24 they aren't paying anything.

The people for whom I understand it making sense not to get a transponder are the people who are doing shady or illegal things and are afraid their E-ZPass records might be the subject of a subpoena someday, such as people who are cheating on their spouses and worry the toll records could become part of the divorce court proceedings.

Yet the majority of these very same people have cell phones, the usage records from which could also be the subject of a subpoena in such cases (no pun intended).  Funny how they don't seem to have a problem with that, however.

Are most people even aware that their cell phones can track their every move?  They probably assume the cell phone is just a passive device when not being used to make a call when it's actually constantly "phoning home".  Many might not have even known that usage was logged before the NSA leak made those facts more well known.

[1995hoo]

....

Are most people even aware that their cell phones can track their every move?  They probably assume the cell phone is just a passive device when not being used to make a call when it's actually constantly "phoning home".  Many might not have even known that usage was logged before the NSA leak made those facts more well known.

I kind of doubt most people who are aware of the NSA thing generally are aware of just how precise the cell tower data can be and of how, particularly in rural areas where there aren't many towers, the cell tower data can be used to narrow down your location pretty much all day long even as you're driving around.

[Rothman]

If they travel exclusively between exits 25A and 24 they aren't paying anything.

Curse you and your common sense.

[kphoger]

What percentage of people have EZPasses? I still see a ton of NH, Maine and MA plates heading to the cash plazas on the Maine Turnpike and those are states WITH EZPass.

A very surprisingly low number -- especially around here with all the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that could be saving a decent amount of money with the 30-mile plan the Thruway offers.

You do notice more people using the E-ZPass lanes in NYC.

People who do not frequently pay tolls very often lack an EZpass account since they don't see it as worth the bother. A visitor driving a rental car would be well justified in paying cash rather than dealing with the rental agency's crazy fees to use their tag (if the rental place even offers one). It also can be difficult to maintain an EZpass account if you don't have a credit card since the other methods of payment are less convenient.

Of course, yes, there are people who pay tolls regularly and still refuse to get an EZpass for one reason or another. Some people are too lazy to expend the effort to set up an account. Some people don't want to put a device in their car that the government can use to track their movements. Some people are stubborn and insist that paying cash ain't broke so why fix it (this reasoning delayed my parents signing up for EZpass for several years). Some people like interacting with human toll collectors and don't want to eliminate that experience. And some people dislike electronic toll collection on principle because they don't want to see toll collectors' jobs eliminated.

There are also the people that hardly ever drive on toll roads since there aren't any in their area, like me, and it is just easier to pay cash then set up an account for a road I probably won't drive on again for another few years. I also don't like electronic toll roads because I get charged over a dollar for a pay by mail fee. On top of that I have to write out a check at the end of the month. I'd rather just pay right then and there so I don't have to worry about it. Plus all the all-electronic toll roads jack up their prices anyways. TX 255 used to be $2 cash to drive on. Now it is $3.99 + a $1.15 pay by mail fee. If I ever have to cross into Mexico I'll drive down to FM 1472 before I take TX 255.

No need. Just call TxTag ahead of time and set up a Camino Colombia day pass account. Instead of getting a bill in the mail, your toll is withdrawn from the account. There is no minimum balance, but there might be a minimum starting deposit (I can't remember). However, if you ever do drive that route, then the TX-130 bypass from Georgetown to San Antonio is well worth getting a TxTag. I put off getting a TxTag for years of annual driving through Texas to México because I wasn't sure how long our van would last. I would have broken down (no pun intended) and gotten one this year, except that our new driving route includes no toll roads in Texas. I am finally, however, considering a PikePass.

[Stephane Dumas]

Here in Quebec, since the A-30 extension opened. We got some toll operators on the A-30 bridge who span the St.Lawrence River.

[Duke87]

Not much point around here as you save 50% over not having a transponder. Those tolls can add up, and cash tolls at mainline plazas can be anywhere from $1.50 to $3.80 a plaza. Even for the occasional tollway user, the transponder makes economic sense.

And yet, as much sense as it makes, there are plenty of people who simply don't put any thought into this decision, since it's not something they have any interesting in thinking about.

This is why I specifically mentioned the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that use the Thruway every day, even despite a respectable fiscal incentive to use E-ZPass (an even bigger discount through the 30-mile plan than the one offered just by having an E-ZPass).

With regards to the 30-mile plan, things like that are often not adopted because people are totally unaware of them and, as before, have no interest in thinking about it.

You'd be surprised the capacity people have to not think about these things. I have an uncle who lives in New York and uses MTA crossings with some frequency, but his EZpass is a NJ Turnpike tag due to him having first obtained it there. He gets hosed with the full cash rate every time he crosses an MTA bridge/tunnel AND pays a monthly fee for the tag... but he doesn't care because he puts no thought into it. He never looks at the details on any of his statements, the tolls are whatever they are.

I've pointed this out to him and told him he would save a bunch of money by getting a NY tag... but he hasn't.

Much like 1995hoo's father couldn't understand how to recharge a tag, I'm guessing there are a decent number of older folks who simply do not grasp the concept that the price of a toll can be different depending on how you pay it. Back in ye olde cash only days that was never the case.

[The Nature Boy]

I still have a New Hampshire EZPass tag even though I live in Maine. Of course, I'm paying maybe a dollar more if I go to Portland and if I'm going farther, it's to Boston so I pass through NH anyway.

I should probably switch over at some point.

[Pete from Boston]

My parents live in Rochester but don't have cause to travel the Thruway often.  The most regular trip is to Canandaigua, but the toll between exits 44 and 45 is only 20 cents each way.  I spend more in tolls each way to visit them than they do in an average year.  Understandably, they don't feel it makes sense to get E-ZPass and have money tied up in a toll account.

This is why I specifically mentioned the commuters between Albany and Schenectady that use the Thruway every day, even despite a respectable fiscal incentive to use E-ZPass (an even bigger discount through the 30-mile plan than the one offered just by having an E-ZPass).  You still see surprising numbers using the cash lanes.  Doesn't make a lick of sense.

If they travel exclusively between exits 25A and 24 they aren't paying anything.

The people for whom I understand it making sense not to get a transponder are the people who are doing shady or illegal things and are afraid their E-ZPass records might be the subject of a subpoena someday, such as people who are cheating on their spouses and worry the toll records could become part of the divorce court proceedings.

Yet the majority of these very same people have cell phones, the usage records from which could also be the subject of a subpoena in such cases (no pun intended).  Funny how they don't seem to have a problem with that, however.

Are most people even aware that their cell phones can track their every move?  They probably assume the cell phone is just a passive device when not being used to make a call when it's actually constantly "phoning home".  Many might not have even known that usage was logged before the NSA leak made those facts more well known.

It's not well advertised until someone's records are subpoenaed.  I was surprised when my most recent phone went to such great lengths to remind me about apps using my location despite them not being open.

[vdeane]

I still have a New Hampshire EZPass tag even though I live in Maine. Of course, I'm paying maybe a dollar more if I go to Portland and if I'm going farther, it's to Boston so I pass through NH anyway.

I should probably switch over at some point.

Especially since Maine has a rather unusual form of transponder discrimination: Maine E-ZPass users are billed a per-mile rate on a virtual ticket system, but everyone from out of state, even those with E-ZPass, uses the more expensive barrier/ramp system.  I've heard of different rates for different transponders before, but never of using a completely different system based on what type of transponder one has.