USA Toll Transponder Interoperability - 2025 edition

[jeffandnicole]

PrePass isn't for paying tolls, it's just for weigh stations. My truck company used E-ZPass for tolls (in addition to one of the weigh station bypass transponders)

By clicking on the link provided, you would see PrePass has a tolling option.

[Molandfreak]

@SSOWorld Where did you find that California, Washington, and Utah were studying interoperability?

[rte66man]

PrePass isn't for paying tolls, it's just for weigh stations. My truck company used E-ZPass for tolls (in addition to one of the weigh station bypass transponders)

https://prepass.com/services/prepass-plus/#Map

[SSOWorld]

UPDATE:

https://ssoworld.org/pics/TollTagIntrop_20240831.pdf (OP Link updated)

I broke out Michigan's agency list due to Bay City Bridges now working with E-ZPass. Also emphasized that Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road Authority accepts ExpressToll (Colorado)

[Molandfreak]

UPDATE:

https://ssoworld.org/pics/TollTagIntrop_20240831.pdf (OP Link updated)

I broke out Michigan's agency list due to Bay City Bridges now working with E-ZPass. Also emphasized that Fort Bend Parkway Toll Road Authority accepts ExpressToll (Colorado)

Is there a source for the California, Utah, and Washington interoperability study? I couldn't find anything through a quick google search.

[SSOWorld]

When i found it, they mentioned a study - I do not have the link anymore, but the below PDF from FHWA discuss Interoperability regions

https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop21023/fhwahop21023.pdf

on Page 18 of the document, the following was found...

egional hub interoperability is established by four major toll interoperability regions (or hubs)
in the United States coming together, as shown in figure 1:
• E-ZPass® region (northeast United States and the Midwest)
• Southeast region (Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Alabama)
• Central United States Interoperability (CUSIOP) region (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas,
Colorado, and Louisiana)
• Western region (California, Oregon, Washington, and Utah)

Both the southeast and western regions are working with CUSIOP to connect their respective
hubs in 2021, while E-ZPass® will develop and connect its regional hub in 2023. As more
toll agencies decide to become nationally interoperable, they will connect to one of these
regional hubs as a member of an interoperability region.

Note that it says 2021. Keep in mind that while Florida and Georgia have crossed lines (FL with the Central group with CUSIOP and E-ZPass and GA with E-ZPass, according to the document, South Carolina is in both FTE and E-ZPass but none of the facilities in SC participate in either region's technology.  Is it still possible that the CTA (Western) region will join CUSIOP or make their own network? yes.  Nothing's official.

[Molandfreak]

Thanks!

[Mdcastle]

Laredo toll bridges till completely their own thing?

[SSOWorld]

Laredo toll bridges till completely their own thing?

Yep. They have their own tag and it's an orphan system.  This is pretty much true for each crossing into Mexico on the Rio Grande.

[hwyfan]

What happened to the expansion of the Uni transponder (offered by the Central Florida Expressway Authority) into the CUSIOP?

The CFX had said some time ago that such expansion was soon to happen, but it has been crickets since.  They have been evasive and non-committal on it when asked about it recently.   

What might be up?   Florida Turnpike Enterprises joined the CUSIOP with SunPass Pro. 

[hwyfan]

Will the new Gordie Howe Bridge across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor accept E-ZPass for tolls? 

I'm concerned that the Canadians might go instead with a proprietary or Canada-run 6c system like Connexion instead.  Connexion is used at the Port Huron and Sault Ste Marie bridges on I-96 and I-75.   

[hwyfan]

Michigan actually has tags.  Three, in fact, none of which are interoperable with each other, let alone anything else (I'm pretty sure the Ambassador Bridge Premier Card is a card and not a sticker tag, but I can't actually verify this, so it might even be four!).

https://www.mackinacbridge.org/macpass/macpass/
https://www.michigan.gov/mdot/-/media/Project/Websites/MDOT/Programs/Bridges-and-Structures/Blue-Water-Bridge/RFID-Tag-Placement-Installation.pdf
https://nexpress.dwtunnel.com
https://www.ambassadorbridge.com/ambassador-premier-card/

The iq Tag used at Sault Saint Marie bridge can be used at the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia, although a seperate account has to set up a second account for the Blue Water Bridge.  As those crossings are hundreds of miles apart from one another, I don't imagine many iq Tag users have made the dual registration.

https://www.saultbridge.com/faq/

[cbeach40]

The iq Tag used at Sault Saint Marie bridge can be used at the Blue Water Bridge between Port Huron and Sarnia, although a seperate account has to set up a second account for the Blue Water Bridge.  As those crossings are hundreds of miles apart from one another, I don't imagine many iq Tag users have made the dual registration.

There's a lot of through traffic between the two on a single trip and/or commercial users who frequently travel over each individually. For a good portion of SW Ontario it's a lot faster to cut through that way than to go around Georgian Bay.

[Great Lakes Roads]

The Executive Director of the OTA (Joe Echelle) said in a conference that they have plans to accept E-Z Pass with the central hub sometime next year... That would be a massive step in the interoperability agreement within the US!

[vdeane]

The Executive Director of the OTA (Joe Echelle) said in a conference that they have plans to accept E-Z Pass with the central hub sometime next year... That would be a massive step in the interoperability agreement within the US!

Wow, it would be!  I believe at that point the only non-interoperable all-electronic toll facilities would be on the west coast and Louisiana.  Hopefully this increases the odds of the new toll bridges on I-10 in Louisiana and Alabama taking E-ZPass.

[JREwing78]

The Executive Director of the OTA (Joe Echelle) said in a conference that they have plans to accept E-Z Pass with the central hub sometime next year... That would be a massive step in the interoperability agreement within the US

Wow, it would be!  I believe at that point the only non-interoperable all-electronic toll facilities would be on the west coast and Louisiana.  Hopefully this increases the odds of the new toll bridges on I-10 in Louisiana and Alabama taking E-ZPass.

I would fully expect, when this happens, the owners of the Ambassador Bridge will fall in lockstep and start accepting E-ZPass. That may well be an impetus for the Blue Water to do so as well.

[Bobby5280]

EZ-Pass interoperability with PikePass would be great. I hope they're able to get it done soon.

Other interesting points in the video: Joe Echelle listed some significant things in the ACCESS Oklahoma program that will go either into the design phase or even construction phase in 2025. Widening the Turner Turnpike is the top priority followed by improvements to the Kilpatrick. The H.E. Bailey Turnpike may get 2 of its 4 proposed new exits built soon.

It's disappointing the East-West Connector Turnpike won't initially be built with frontage roads. But Echelle said that once the new turnpike is built it will likely only be a matter of time before Norman and Moore request the addition of frontage roads. That will be harder to do later rather than up front during original turnpike construction.

[hwyfan]

Will the new Gordie Howe Bridge across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor accept E-ZPass for tolls? 

I'm concerned that the Canadians might go instead with a proprietary or Canada-run 6c system like Connexion instead.  Connexion is used at the Port Huron and Sault Ste Marie bridges on I-96 and I-75.   

An article in the Windsor Star today suggests that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will have both dedicated ETC tolling lanes and accept E-ZPass.

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/gordie-howe-bridge-to-offer-pre-paid-tolls-to-keep-vehicles-moving

Gordie Howe International Bridge users will be able to set up a payment account ahead of their trip, place an electronic tag on their vehicles, and cross through a toll booth in seconds. The funds will be automatically withdrawn from their account, said Heather Grondin, chief relations officer with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.

[...]

"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

[1995hoo]

....
"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

There's usually either a red light or a stop sign when you pull up to Customs, though.

[Molandfreak]

Will the new Gordie Howe Bridge across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor accept E-ZPass for tolls? 

I'm concerned that the Canadians might go instead with a proprietary or Canada-run 6c system like Connexion instead.  Connexion is used at the Port Huron and Sault Ste Marie bridges on I-96 and I-75.   

An article in the Windsor Star today suggests that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will have both dedicated ETC tolling lanes and accept E-ZPass.

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/gordie-howe-bridge-to-offer-pre-paid-tolls-to-keep-vehicles-moving

Gordie Howe International Bridge users will be able to set up a payment account ahead of their trip, place an electronic tag on their vehicles, and cross through a toll booth in seconds. The funds will be automatically withdrawn from their account, said Heather Grondin, chief relations officer with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.

[...]

"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

Uh oh, looks like the tyrants have won.

[MikeTheActuary]

"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

Well, except for the one at the booth at the border crossing.

[Great Lakes Roads]

https://thetollroads.com/news/newsroom/press-releases/transportation-corridor-agencies-november-2024-board-meeting-highlights/

North Texas Tollway Authority Interoperability Agreement from TCA...

[vdeane]

Will the new Gordie Howe Bridge across the Detroit River between Detroit and Windsor accept E-ZPass for tolls? 

I'm concerned that the Canadians might go instead with a proprietary or Canada-run 6c system like Connexion instead.  Connexion is used at the Port Huron and Sault Ste Marie bridges on I-96 and I-75. 

An article in the Windsor Star today suggests that the Gordie Howe International Bridge will have both dedicated ETC tolling lanes and accept E-ZPass.

https://windsorstar.com/news/local-news/gordie-howe-bridge-to-offer-pre-paid-tolls-to-keep-vehicles-moving

Gordie Howe International Bridge users will be able to set up a payment account ahead of their trip, place an electronic tag on their vehicles, and cross through a toll booth in seconds. The funds will be automatically withdrawn from their account, said Heather Grondin, chief relations officer with the Windsor Detroit Bridge Authority.

[...]

"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

Am I missing something?  I didn't see a mention of E-ZPass specifically.  It certainly would be nice though.  Having a major US/Canada bridge take E-ZPass might be the critical mass needed to make more inroads into Michigan.

[hotdogPi]

Since when does Montreal to Florida go through Michigan?

[ElishaGOtis]

https://thetollroads.com/news/newsroom/press-releases/transportation-corridor-agencies-november-2024-board-meeting-highlights/

North Texas Tollway Authority Interoperability Agreement from TCA...

Interesting that this is occurring. I would have placed my bets on either one becoming E-ZPass members before agreement-based interoperability.

"Once we open, vehicles will be able to travel from Montreal to Florida without ever having to stop at a traffic light."

Well, except for the one at the booth at the border crossing.

Another reason to annex Canada /s