121 Tollway question....

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by hornraider

I don't think you HAVE TO take the tollway if you are just on 121. The tollway starts after Denton Tap, it becomes the SRT.

Technically the access road is Texas 121, the center tolled lanes are the Sam Rayburn Tollway.

[loves2read]

Originally Posted by little elmer

Sunday morning would be the best time, imo.

As for the tolling, you will be charged by mail if you don't have a Tolltag. Here's the rates: NTTA: Roadways

A lot of confusion has resulted from out-of-towners driving rental cars on our toll roads, not realizing that the charges were being sent to the rental companies, then to a collection agency who charged unGodly service fees. By the time the bill got back to the driver, it was hundreds of dollars - and they never even knew they were on a toll road.

There are ways avoid this problem...
1--pay the upfront charge via your rental company -- whether you knowing plan to use toll roads or not since it means you are covered
2--take a portable/personal GPS device that allows you to set a NO toll roads parameter...might not be quickest/most direct routing but if GPS info is current it works...
Don't use phone app for GPS but some people do so don't know if NO TOLLS is option w/that
3-- investigate and plan your routes ahead of time to avoid toll roads...not always easy to do tho and confusing if things come up enroute

SOME PEOPLE TRIED TO AVOID TOLLS BY SIMPLY STAYING ON ACCESS ROADS BUT SOME PARTS OF 121 and other toll roads feed you into the freeway--no access road...

[wxf848]

The toll road is the Sam Rayburn Tollway. No part of SH 121 is a toll road, and it's possible to drive the entire route without incurring tolls, which may be a good idea if electronic toll collection is likely to cause problems, such as if you're in a rental car, or if you just want to avoid tolls.

You have to pay attention to the exits. Going northeast, SH 121 exits the freeway at the Denton Tap Rd. exit. The signs are marked with a "last free exit" tab. After I-35E, there's no frontage road bridge over the river, so the highway joins the main lanes. No tolls are charged for this use. SH 121 exits the main lanes at the Hebron Pkwy exit, which is also marked as "last free exit." From there, you can follow the frontage road to US 75.

Note that you can use the main lanes without cost to avoid the Dallas Parkway intersections under the DNT. It isn't marked in any special way, since they may not really want people to know about it, but if you enter the main lanes just before the Dallas Parkway, under the ramp to the DNT, and take the next exit, you can avoid the Dallas Parkway intersections and there's no toll for it. The contract with TxDOT provides for this toll-free use to keep traffic from backing up too much on 121.

[Saintmarks]

Originally Posted by wxf848

The toll road is the Sam Rayburn Tollway. No part of SH 121 is a toll road, and it's possible to drive the entire route without incurring tolls, which may be a good idea if electronic toll collection is likely to cause problems, such as if you're in a rental car, or if you just want to avoid tolls.

You have to pay attention to the exits. Going northeast, SH 121 exits the freeway at the Denton Tap Rd. exit. The signs are marked with a "last free exit" tab. After I-35E, there's no frontage road bridge over the river, so the highway joins the main lanes. No tolls are charged for this use. SH 121 exits the main lanes at the Hebron Pkwy exit, which is also marked as "last free exit." From there, you can follow the frontage road to US 75.

Note that you can use the main lanes without cost to avoid the Dallas Parkway intersections under the DNT. It isn't marked in any special way, since they may not really want people to know about it, but if you enter the main lanes just before the Dallas Parkway, under the ramp to the DNT, and take the next exit, you can avoid the Dallas Parkway intersections and there's no toll for it. The contract with TxDOT provides for this toll-free use to keep traffic from backing up too much on 121.

I work right by that intersection and never knew this about the toll free deal at Dallas Parkway Great info!

[debragga]

Originally Posted by loves2read

Don't use phone app for GPS but some people do so don't know if NO TOLLS is option w/that

Google Maps has that option, not sure if Apple Maps does or not