EZ Pass Fees for VA and Other States

[SmootSmack]

As someone who frequently traveled back and forth between DC and Connecticut, EZ Pass is perhaps the best invention ever.

Going through those lanes vs. the standard toll lanes can save hours off a commute. So I'll gladly pay the $1/month "maintenance fee" I mean it's one dollar, one ****ing dollar.

I like what the new ICC in Maryland has. There's a toll fee but you don't have to stop, or even slow down. You just keep driving and cameras (I'm guessing they're cameras) note when you pass through checkpoints and deduct off your EZ Pass

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

As someone who frequently traveled back and forth between DC and Connecticut, EZ Pass is perhaps the best invention ever.

Going through those lanes vs. the standard toll lanes can save hours off a commute. So I'll gladly pay the $1/month "maintenance fee" I mean it's one dollar, one ****ing dollar.

I like what the new ICC in Maryland has. There's a toll fee but you don't have to stop, or even slow down. You just keep driving and cameras (I'm guessing they're cameras) note when you pass through checkpoints and deduct off your EZ Pass

What the ICC is call EZ Pass Express, I think they have it now on the NJ Turnpike and in Delaware. It is pretty nice not having to slow down at all (I think the speed limit is 55 mph). The EZ Pass maintenance fee are def worth it.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

As someone who frequently traveled back and forth between DC and Connecticut, EZ Pass is perhaps the best invention ever.

Going through those lanes vs. the standard toll lanes can save hours off a commute. So I'll gladly pay the $1/month "maintenance fee" I mean it's one dollar, one ****ing dollar.

I like what the new ICC in Maryland has. There's a toll fee but you don't have to stop, or even slow down. You just keep driving and cameras (I'm guessing they're cameras) note when you pass through checkpoints and deduct off your EZ Pass

The Garden State is the worst and the fat man is getting ready to make it really bad.He wants and I'll find the link to make all tolls cashless,yup you either have EZ pass or they will take your pic and send you a bill,now this bill will have the toll lets say $1.00 and a service charge of $2.50 for every bill they send out.

Garden State Parkway tolls could be cashless by next summer | NJ.com

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by Giantone

The Garden State is the worst and the fat man is getting ready to make it really bad.He wants and I'll find the link to make all tolls cashless,yup you either have EZ pass or they will take your pic and send you a bill,now this bill will have the toll lets say $1.00 and a service charge of $2.50 for every bill they send out.

Garden State Parkway tolls could be cashless by next summer | NJ.com

I wonder if this has anything to do with toll collector unions?


How come Christie never eliminated the the gas pumper law? Everyone in NJ all threatened to stop driving if he did?

[mlmpetert]

This affects a lot of people and seems pretty non-partisan so i thought it was worth posting. Its a petition you can sign to stop VDOT from adding tolls on 95.

Sign A Petition To Oppose Tolls On I-95

VDOT Proposal

The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is proposing to build a new tolling facility on I-95 between mile markers 20 and 24 in Sussex County. The VDOT plan calls for a $4 toll for personal vehicles and a $12 toll for trucks. Exit and entrance ramps before and after the toll plaza will collect $2 from personal vehicles and $6 from trucks.

VDOT has made it clear that while the current proposal includes one tolling facility, other tolling locations on I-95 could be considered in the future.

Arguments Against Tolls on I-95

Waste of Taxpayer Money: Tolling is bad policy. It is the most inefficient way to generate transportation revenue. In the first six years, 38% of the revenue generated will go towards building and operating the toll plaza and 16% over the first 25 years. Virginia’s transportation needs are far too great to waste taxpayer dollars on a costly and inefficient tolling system. Taxpayers have already paid for I-95 via taxes and including a toll will be a double taxation for use.

Economic Development: Tolling I-95 will put Virginia’s business-friendly reputation at risk by unfairly targeting trucking and commerce along I-95. At a time when Virginia is attempting to create jobs and promote itself as the premier state to do business, tolls will be a red flag for any company looking to relocate or do business in Virginia. In essence, VDOT will be choosing winners and losers in the all too competitive environment of economic development.

Unfair: A single tolling location on I-95 would unfairly shift the funds generated in one locality to other localities along I-95 and would disproportionately affect the low income residents of Southside Virginia who are already struggling economically.

Traffic: It is inevitable that a toll on I-95 would force major diversions in traffic to roads that are less suited to handle high volumes of traffic. This will require increased maintenance costs on roads ill-equipped to handle such high traffic levels.

Unanswered Questions: There are far too many unanswered questions surrounding tolling I-95 that include safety, environmental impact, congestion and economic impact. There has been virtually no opportunity for public comments or questions.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by mooby

My boss will be getting one when HOV on 95 turns into HOT lanes, we ride HOV every day from Woodbridge to Alexandria. Kinda sucks because once HOV turns to HOT lanes, there will be a lot more traffic on there due to single drivers paying to use the HOV lanes. But I'm sure it will be greatly beneficial to those who would rather pay more than sit in regular rush hour traffic.

I don't think that's how hot lanes work. I think if so many people are paying to use the lane the price will continue to go up until enough people are priced out to make it worth paying for the lane.

Its a great way for the state to make money while increasing the efficiency of the hov lane. Right now there are no limits for the lane.

I don't know how many additional people will start commuting because of this option. I would think that number would be negligible, but that's yet to be seen.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by hooskins

I don't think that's how hot lanes work. I think if so many people are paying to use the lane the price will continue to go up until enough people are priced out to make it worth paying for the lane.

Its a great way for the state to make money while increasing the efficiency of the hov lane. Right now there are no limits for the lane.

I don't know how many additional people will start commuting because of this option. I would think that number would be negligible, but that's yet to be seen.

From what I know the toll will be variable depending on when you use it, how many miles you use it, etc. I'm just saying with all the high income people that live in NoVa I wouldn't doubt that many of them wouldn't mind paying extra to shorten their commute time. Most of my info comes from here:

Virginia HOT Lanes

[firstdown]

That's one of the big fights going on around here in tidewater area. We are surrounded by water and they are adding tolls to all the major bridges and tunnels. I just live so I don't have to cross one everyday. I don't even have to get on an interstate if I don't want to. I just don't understand why some people live in one city and do eveything else in life in another city and then bitches about their drive everyday.

[mlmpetert]

Part of the problem i have with this fee is that they are going to use the money to get more EZ Passes in more cars. They want to start distributing them at DMV's, have a few EZ Pass stores and do promotions things. It worries me that our state would be pushing something on its citizens and charging them to do so. I also question if trying to get everyone to have an EZ Pass will eventually increase the volume of tolls we have in our state?

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

Part of the problem i have with this fee is that they are going to use the money to get more EZ Passes in more cars. They want to start distributing them at DMV's, have a few EZ Pass stores and do promotions things. It worries me that our state would be pushing something on its citizens and charging them to do so. I also question if trying to get everyone to have an EZ Pass will eventually increase the volume of tolls we have in our state?

Oh oh and they probably can track us as well with them in our cars! OH MY GOD! SCARY!

Am I folding this right?

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Oh oh and they probably can track us as well with them in our cars! OH MY GOD! SCARY!

Am I folding this right?

Im not trying to make this thing political at all. Maybe i just have too much compassion for the poor and those that may be taken advantage of.

And come on man everyone knows you EZ Passes can be used to track you. Its been well established for a while now:

Of the 12 states in the Northeast and Midwest that are part of the E-ZPass system, agencies in seven states provide electronic toll information in response to court orders in criminal and civil cases, including divorces, according to an Associated Press survey.

In four of the 12 states, including New Jersey and Pennsylvania, highway authorities release E-ZPass records only in criminal cases. West Virginia parkways authority has no policy.

Not So Fast: E-Z Pass Data Used To Catch Cheaters

So if youre cheating on your wife now may prove to be a convenient time to drop your EZ Pass account. You can blame it on the man with his $1 dollar fee and she will never know.

[BDBohnzie]

I was a bit perturbed when MD first instituted the monthly fee. I figured that the state was saving money by not having to man as many toll booths, and makes it much easier to facilitate toll collection via EZPass, yet they wanted to charge me $18 a year to use the system. But I then got complacent to change and never bothered to switch to another state's system. If mlmpetert hadn't posted the wiki link, I wouldn't have been prompted to log in and see that MD is discounting tolls 10%. Pretty cool.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by BDBohnzie

I was a bit perturbed when MD first instituted the monthly fee. I figured that the state was saving money by not having to man as many toll booths, and makes it much easier to facilitate toll collection via EZPass, yet they wanted to charge me $18 a year to use the system. But I then got complacent to change and never bothered to switch to another state's system. If mlmpetert hadn't posted the wiki link, I wouldn't have been prompted to log in and see that MD is discounting tolls 10%. Pretty cool.

You know i think that is really fair. If someone has a stagnant account charging a fee sounds resonable. If someone is usig there EZ Pass then dont charge them, or perhaps discount them since they are saving the state money in normal toll maintance.

I looked at the Mass. website the other day, it looks like they do something very simular. WV lets you pay $95 a year that allows you unlimited toll use in the state, kind of like how mredskins mistakenly thought the $1 per month would allow......

[mredskins]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

You know i think that is really fair. If someone has a stagnant account charging a fee sounds resonable. If someone is usig there EZ Pass then dont charge them, or perhaps discount them since they are saving the state money in normal toll maintance.

I looked at the Mass. website the other day, it looks like they do something very simular. WV lets you pay $95 a year that allows you unlimited toll use in the state, kind of like how mredskins mistakenly thought the $1 per month would allow......

Listen I completely understand how EZ PASS works I have had one for the past 10 years. Only a moron would think the $1 month covers the tolls and the transponder.

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Listen I completely understand how EZ PASS works I have had one for the past 10 years. Only a moron would think the $1 month covers the tolls and the transponder.

Come on i was clearly joking. Nearly everyone knew what you meant by you comment when you first posted it. If anything my comment was a dig at htownskinsfan.

Were you the one that gave this thread 1 star?????