A proposal under consideration by the Virginia Department of Transportation would assess a monthly fee for E-ZPass users of about $1 per transponder. E-ZPass is the system that allows drivers to pass through toll plazas more quickly by carrying transponders that automatically charge tolls to a registered account.
VDOT has proposed the fee to help defray administrative and operations costs within the state for the service. Most of the E-ZPass toll facilities are not operated by VDOT. The program has grown significantly over the years and will be part of new toll services opening during the next few years.
The proposed monthly fee would cover costs for:
- Purchasing nearly one-half million transponders
- Implementing a program that offers transponders at various stores in Northern Virginia, and eventually Hampton Roads
- Providing service at select DMV locations
- Upgrading information technology to accommodate the expanded program
- Account management and processing of toll transactions
- Customer service and the operation of three customer service centers
The fee—which would be reevaluated on a regular basis—would also help control costs and manage the selection and demand for E-ZPass transponders.
VDOT will accept comments about the fee through Tuesday, June 12, at 5 p.m.
Visit VDOT’s E-ZPass web page www.virginiadot.org/e-zpass for more information or to provide comments online. Comments may also be submitted via email at vdotinfo@vdot.virginia.gov or standard mail at:
Office Communications – Third Floor/Annex Bldg.
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
VDOT expects to have a final decision in June.
Laurie Dodd
2:24 pm on Thursday, May 31, 2012
I thought the use of transponders would save the DOT money by reducing the staff required to collect tolls. That offset should certainly cover the cost of the transponders. The system also reduces emisions caused by idling at the toll booths.
dave
6:03 pm on Friday, June 1, 2012
Toll Road fees have increased by double digits almost year over year. We now pay $2 to ride on the Dulles Toll Road and $5 to ride less than 10 miles on the Greenway. So for $7 each way, we sit in bumper to bumper traffic every morning and every evening knowing that these yearly increases were all put in place to improve our safety and road experience. And now, they want to charge another $1 per month/for the transponder that collects their money, so that they can continue to “improve” the process and experience we have using the Toll Roads?
Come on! Is anyone looking for ways to make the roads safer, find a way to do road construction that does not create major traffic delays, reduce rush hour bottlenecks, finding ways to prevent accidents? These additional fees have nothing to do with improving these roads or the safety of the people who ride on them, this is just another way to charge more for something that was built over 10 years ago with our tax dollars.
Final note, they want to build 3 Customer Care Centers with these funds? How many times have any of you ever needed to go to a "Customer Care Center" for your transponder? Are you kidding me! They mail the transponders to you, why would I need to go into one of these place? MORE WASTE OF MONEY AND RESOURCES!