Toll Booths

[jakeroot]

I am so lost that I'd really appreciate an "unsubscribe" button.

Do you mean it keeps popping up in "new replies"? What I do for some is open it and quickly go back one page. (3 fingers to the left, since I use a Mac.)

Yeah, exactly. On Chrome, the back button just loads a cached version of the page you were just on so it becomes a "click-back-refresh" sequence. It works but it's annoying.

[MrDisco99]

If agencies would allow us to get transponders without paying recurring fees for the "privilege" of having them, or have some kind of camera enforcement that doesn't consider an unregistered driver a violation... you know, for those of us from out of town... then I'd be perfectly fine with rolling through an electronic toll road without having to stop when I'm on one of my road trips.

Otherwise, keep the booths.

I live in Georgia so the only time I'm on toll roads is when I'm travelling.  I use SunPass in Florida because it costs me nothing to keep it and I enjoy not having to stop on the turnpike there.  However, I've yet to find an E-Z Pass that makes sense to keep for use only once or twice a year, so when I drive up north I pretty much have to pay cash.  I'd hate to have to stop driving those roads at all.

[Pete from Boston]

I think the agencies need to allocate some of the tremendous savings from the elimination of toll booths to covering whatever costs are presently covered by the recurring fees.  It's a no-brainer since each new transponder user means more savings for the agency.

[roadman]

I think the agencies need to allocate some of the tremendous savings from the elimination of toll booths to covering whatever costs are presently covered by the recurring fees.  It's a no-brainer since each new transponder user means more savings for the agency.

AFAIK, in nearly all cases the recurring transponder fees are set based on laws passed by the state legislatures, which control the fees (or lack thereof) the toll road agency can charge.  For example, New Hampshire has a state law that requires a person getting a transponder (either a new applicant or a renewal) to pay a fee not less than the agency's cost from the manufacturer for the transponder.  That is why, several years ago, NH's fee went from from $5.00 for a transponder to $32.50.

Massachusetts used to charge $28.75, but now charges nothing for a transponder - this change was made after the MassDOT merger.  Plus there's a big push in Massachusetts right now to get people to use transponders.  This is being driven (no pun intended) by the pending conversion of the Tobin Bridge to all-electronic tolling, and the eventual conversion of the Massachusetts Turnpike and other Boston Harbor crossings to all AET as well.

Disclaimer - after almost nine years of reliable service, the battery in my original New Hampshire E-ZPass transponder finally failed.   As I have less business in New Hampshire than I did years ago (and thus don't need the NH discount as much), I opted for a new Massachusetts transponder instead.

[Brandon]

^^ Interesting.  ISTHA sent out a letter 10 years after I got the transponder stating that I had to replace it.  Replacement was easy.  I just followed the letter and brought it and my old transponder to a Jewel-Osco.  It was replaced for free there and the new one activated immediately.  No battery failure.

[vdeane]

I'm curious, what happens when the battery dies?  Do you just wait for your first violation and request a new transponder?  What happens if this occurs on a facility with gate arms?

[Brandon]

I'm curious, what happens when the battery dies?  Do you just wait for your first violation and request a new transponder?  What happens if this occurs on a facility with gate arms?

No idea on the gate arms.  I haven't seen one on an ISTHA road outside a manual lane in a long time.  Then, I suspect you'd get instant help from the attendant on-duty.  The Indiana Toll Road still has the gate arms, but they have attendants on-duty at the plazas as well.  I suspect you'd have to honk your horn and get help.

[myosh_tino]

AFAIK, in nearly all cases the recurring transponder fees are set based on laws passed by the state legislatures, which control the fees (or lack thereof) the toll road agency can charge.  For example, New Hampshire has a state law that requires a person getting a transponder (either a new applicant or a renewal) to pay a fee not less than the agency's cost from the manufacturer for the transponder.  That is why, several years ago, NH's fee went from from $5.00 for a transponder to $32.50.

In California, where all tolling agencies must use FasTrak for ETC, monthly fees will vary from agency to agency.  Down in Southern California, just about all of the tolling agencies charge a minimum monthly fee that is offset by tolls charged to the account.  Up in Northern California, there's only one tolling authority (Bay Area Toll Authority) and they have NO monthly minimums or maintenance fees.  The only way you'd incur a fee would be if the majority of toll activity came from toll facilities in southern California.

[realjd]

I'm curious, what happens when the battery dies?  Do you just wait for your first violation and request a new transponder?  What happens if this occurs on a facility with gate arms?

Here in FL the old battery ones beep. You waited until it no longer beeped running through a toll booth. It was never a violation though because you have your license plate tied to your SunPass account. They just look up your tag and bill your account.

We don't have gate arms on electronic toll lanes here so I couldn't tell you what happens in that case.

[theline]

^^ Interesting.  ISTHA sent out a letter 10 years after I got the transponder stating that I had to replace it.  Replacement was easy.  I just followed the letter and brought it and my old transponder to a Jewel-Osco.  It was replaced for free there and the new one activated immediately.  No battery failure.

Trading transponders is not so easy for me, since I live in South Bend, far from a Jewel-Osco. I haven't figured out what to do about it yet. The ISTHA web site is no help. Maybe I'll call.

[Brandon]

^^ Interesting.  ISTHA sent out a letter 10 years after I got the transponder stating that I had to replace it.  Replacement was easy.  I just followed the letter and brought it and my old transponder to a Jewel-Osco.  It was replaced for free there and the new one activated immediately.  No battery failure.

Trading transponders is not so easy for me, since I live in South Bend, far from a Jewel-Osco. I haven't figured out what to do about it yet. The ISTHA web site is no help. Maybe I'll call.

There's one in Chesterton, near I-94 and IN-49.

[theline]

^^ Thanks for pointing that out. Actually, that's the place I purchased the transponder a few years ago. I'd rather not make the trip for just that purpose. I'll probably just figure out some reason to visit Porter County.

[bugo]

Pikepass uses stickers with tiny passive RFID chips in them.  No batteries are necessary.  I find it strange that backwards Oklahoma has more modern technology than the east coast.

[mrsman]

In my view, until there is a nationwide standard transponder that is also not subject to a monthly fee, cash should always be a "reasonable" option.

For a toll road, all through lanes should be for transponders.  Those paying by some other means should exit to a toll booth, similar to the way it is done in Florida.

Now, by "reasonable", I'm not saying that every crossing needs to have a manned toll booth.  For example, if NYC ever tolls the East River crossings, those crossings should be toll-booth free and drivers who want to pay cash should be directed to the Battery and Midtown Tunnels.  Similarly with toll roads, there could be more and more EZ-Pass only exits, so long as mainline tollbooths and major exits provide a cash option.

To apply my own criteria to what is happening in Maryland [pilot project to remover toll booths on the Hatem Bridge, pilot project prohibited by legislation], I would say that the Hatem Bridge should be EZ-Pass only, because I-95 is a relatively close cash alternate.  The Baltimore Harbor Tunnel can also be EZ-Pass only because the Fort McHenry tunnel provides a relatively close cash alternate [but the reverse is not true, because there are many exits that are skipped along I-895 so if cash were not allowed on I-95, there would be a lot of backtracking for cash customers on I-95].

My rule would not apply to HOT or toll-express lanes since the free lanes are close and can provide a non-EZPass option for travel.

Ideally, I would prefer all toll crossings to be ORT.  Let's just make it fair to occasional travelers by not charging them more than a fair toll.  Transponders without monthly fees to encourage occasional travelers to acquire transponders.  A nationwide standard of transponders so that we have a more uniform system.  And a reasonable surcharge, capped at 25% of the toll, for those who drive by without a transponder.  But until, these elements are met, there should be a reasonable cash option for travel.

[realjd]

A nationwide standard of transponders so that we have a more uniform system.  And a reasonable surcharge, capped at 25% of the toll, for those who drive by without a transponder.  But until, these elements are met, there should be a reasonable cash option for travel.

Florida has 3 options:

• SunPass Transponder: discount on stated tolls
• SunPass Toll-by-plate: register your license plate with SunPass.com and pay the stated toll
• Toll-by-plate: the registered owner of the car is sent an invoice from FDOT once a month for all toll activity (stated tolls), plus a $2.50 monthly administrative fee

For MDX roads, if you don't have a SunPass account, they invoice you for all of the tolls with a 25c - 30c per toll fee, plus a $3 monthly administrative fee.

If you don't register for a SunPass account, neither of the invoiced toll-by-plate programs seem particularly bad.

[hotdogPi]

The gap between "yes" and "no" is closing! Keep going!

[wxfree]

The gap between "yes" and "no" is closing! Keep going!

I'm kind of absolutist about having a way to pay directly, but it needn't be with a physical toll booth.  NTTA's Zip-Pass, mentioned above, is good for those who don't want to pay rental company fees or don't want to risk a missed bill.  Since nearly everyone has or can easily get a credit or debit card, if an arrangement like that is set up, I'd support all-electronic toll collection.

https://www.ntta.org/custinfo/rentalout-of-state/Pages/default.aspx

[mrsman]

A nationwide standard of transponders so that we have a more uniform system.  And a reasonable surcharge, capped at 25% of the toll, for those who drive by without a transponder.  But until, these elements are met, there should be a reasonable cash option for travel.

Florida has 3 options:

• SunPass Transponder: discount on stated tolls
• SunPass Toll-by-plate: register your license plate with SunPass.com and pay the stated toll
• Toll-by-plate: the registered owner of the car is sent an invoice from FDOT once a month for all toll activity (stated tolls), plus a $2.50 monthly administrative fee

For MDX roads, if you don't have a SunPass account, they invoice you for all of the tolls with a 25c - 30c per toll fee, plus a $3 monthly administrative fee.

If you don't register for a SunPass account, neither of the invoiced toll-by-plate programs seem particularly bad.

I don't know all the details but the way you describe Sun Pass seems pretty fair to me.  For an infrequent user, if all they have to pay is the stated toll plus $2.50 per month, only for the months that they are using the toll booth, then that is a fair tolling system and it is OK to get rid of the cash option.

Here in EZ-Pass area, one really has to do a lot of research to find a transponder that does not charge a monthly fee.  I have one and I only use it about 3-4 times a year when I visit relatives in the NY area.  If the tolls in the Mid-Atlantic go cashless, it won't matter to me, since I already have an EZ-PASS.  But if they implemented a system similar to Florida, where unregistered users would only have to pay an additional $2.50 per month of use, then they should go cashless immediately. 

[MrDisco99]

Like I said, I only ever drive through FL as a tourist, and I have no issue using their cashless tolling options thanks to the SunPass fee structure.  A SunPass sticker is practically free, and even if you don't get one, the bill by plate options are perfectly reasonable.  They could rip out all their booths tomorrow and I wouldn't care.

E-Z Pass territory, on the other hand, needs to adjust some of their policies before ripping theirs out.

[US 41]

The poll is tied at 27! Cash should always be an option. Especially if you never use the road.

[jakeroot]

Because I apparently cannot unsubscribe to this thread, here are my opinions:

- Electronic is cheaper not only because it requires less land take, but because toll-booth operators have to (obviously) be payed money to do their job, which is an unnecessary expense.
- Cash is archaic. What is this, the 1950s? There's a reason automated billing is so popular.
- Lots of users on this site are old people who still think button copy is a good idea and who rag on for hours about Clearview. I think you all need to listen to Bob Dylan's "The Times They Are a-Changin:"

[signalman]

- Lots of users on this site are old people who still think button copy is a good idea and who rag on for hours about Clearview.

I am not old.  However, I am in the "more button copy, less Clearview" crowd.  Newer doesn't necessarily mean better.

[jeffandnicole]

The poll is tied at 27! Cash should always be an option. Especially if you never use the road.

If you never use the road, then you won't have to pay a toll, period! 

[Brandon]

Because I apparently cannot unsubscribe to this thread, here are my opinions:

- Cash is archaic. What is this, the 1950s? There's a reason automated billing is so popular.

Tell that to those who are victims of the Target identity theft stuff.  I much prefer cash for most purchases as it is far, far safer (oddly enough) in this day and age of identity theft.  You lose a $20, so what.  You lose your account number and PIN to a crime ring, you're out everything.

[Pete from Boston]

Because I apparently cannot unsubscribe to this thread, here are my opinions:

- Cash is archaic. What is this, the 1950s? There's a reason automated billing is so popular.

Tell that to those who are victims of the Target identity theft stuff.  I much prefer cash for most purchases as it is far, far safer (oddly enough) in this day and age of identity theft.  You lose a $20, so what.  You lose your account number and PIN to a crime ring, you're out everything.

If you're using a PIN instead of credit at Target, you sort of have it coming.