Car Rental Trap in Denver: E470 tolls! (2014, gated)

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by reed303

In MA, the Mass Pike (I-90), 2 tunnels, and a bridge are all-electronic since 2016

I know. I drove it for two years that way, since I had an EZpass transponder. The northeast has had "electronic tolls" for a couple of decades, I believe. The only real change was that you could drive through the leftmost lanes at full speed (with big-ass transponder antennas overhead), instead of having to slow-go through a gate.

But there were still manual-pay lanes, and attended booths at most gates. The same seems to be true for all the roads that are converting to high-speed drive-through tolls: it may be the fast option and one savvy drivers will opt for, but it's not the ONLY option as it is with E470.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Quietude

I know. I drove it for two years that way, since I had an EZpass transponder. The northeast has had "electronic tolls" for a couple of decades, I believe. The only real change was that you could drive through the leftmost lanes at full speed (with big-ass transponder antennas overhead), instead of having to slow-go through a gate.

But there were still manual-pay lanes, and attended booths at most gates. The same seems to be true for all the roads that are converting to high-speed drive-through tolls: it may be the fast option and one savvy drivers will opt for, but it's not the ONLY option as it is with E470.

And what we are telling you is that this is not specific to Colorado but we do understand your frustration.

[reed303]

Originally Posted by Quietude

I know. I drove it for two years that way, since I had an EZpass transponder. The northeast has had "electronic tolls" for a couple of decades, I believe. The only real change was that you could drive through the leftmost lanes at full speed (with big-ass transponder antennas overhead), instead of having to slow-go through a gate.

But there were still manual-pay lanes, and attended booths at most gates. The same seems to be true for all the roads that are converting to high-speed drive-through tolls: it may be the fast option and one savvy drivers will opt for, but it's not the ONLY option as it is with E470.

Those are gone now. Its ALL electronic (pay-by-plate) now. See page 5 of http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/Porta...nD1_022317.pdf where it says:

"The end of cash tolls has allowed MassDOT to save on personnel costs"

More at Toll Plaza Demolition Project - Highway - MassDOT

[beachmouse]

Originally Posted by Mike from back east

The ideal is a single, common system, nationwide, with our license plates registered to use any toll road in the country with the amount of the toll deducted from our account balance. Key is to have funds on file, as I did when I had the E-Z Pass or whatever it was called for highway 470. That's been a couple of years now since I was up there.

There's been a longtime push toward what's called 'interoperability' at the federal level including a 2012 law passed by Congress that there was supposed to be a universal transponder option by 2016. While there has been decent regional progress toward that in some areas, the incompatibility and bureaucracy issues among toll systems are more significant than first realized.

https://www.wired.com/story/national-tolling-system/

[Moonwalkr]

Originally Posted by Quietude

Because you told it to, all "magically" and stuff, right?

So yes, yes, we're down to the "only stupid people would get caught by this" argument, more or less.

Is there ANY other toll road in the US that is (1) completely automatic, based on license plate reads; (2) has no payment options for drivers on the road and (3) has no off-road payment options (online, kiosks, store service, whatever)? While increasingly automated tolls are definitely the coming thing, I can't think of another system like E470's, where it's "avoid or die."

I'd love to know the stats on rental car tolls - prepaid, postpaid with penalty, etc. I'd bet it's substantial, whether they pay $50 or so in advance, $10 a day or $15-per-toll in arrears.

There really needs to be a notification system for DIA renters. A notice in the rental office, a highway sign well before they reach E470. But it will never happen, 'cuz who cares about stupid people, right?

Again, you put in the address, and the app gives you options including if there's toll on a route. You can pick whichever route. I was driving to Indianapolis and chose a tolled route, because it was faster by quite a bit. There was not a booth on my route, and I was charged for toll. Again, magic, but totally anticipated.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by Moonwalkr

Again, you put in the address, and the app gives you options including if there's toll on a route. You can pick whichever route. I was driving to Indianapolis and chose a tolled route, because it was faster by quite a bit. There was not a booth on my route, and I was charged for toll. Again, magic, but totally anticipated.

That's great.

If you don't know that you can't pay tolls manually and the rental company is going to raid your bank account in arrears, none of this changes anything.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by reed303

Those are gone now. Its ALL electronic (pay-by-plate) now.

Okay. Ain't done no drivin' there since mid-2017 and had an EZpass for five years before that.

I'd have to dig to see what options there are for people who want to avoid license-plate billing. Since the NE has had tolls forever, I'd suspect there is a better driver-info and payment option system, even if tolls are now gateless.

[Moonwalkr]

Originally Posted by Quietude

That's great.

If you don't know that you can't pay tolls manually and the rental company is going to raid your bank account in arrears, none of this changes anything.

I chose to go the tolled route, so I knew I was going to pay, whether it's manually or with a transponder/license plate, I didn't care. I'm happy to report my bank account was fine, and it did change something, I got to my meeting in time, exactly what a tolled road is for. Use a decent nav app to avoid toll roads if you don't want to go pay, and look up the routes of your future travels if you are concerned about getting into a tolled situation.

[Quietude]

Originally Posted by Moonwalkr

I chose to go the tolled route, so I knew I was going to pay, whether it's manually or with a transponder/license plate, I didn't care. I'm happy to report my bank account was fine, and it did change something, I got to my meeting in time, exactly what a tolled road is for. Use a decent nav app to avoid toll roads if you don't want to go pay, and look up the routes of your future travels if you are concerned about getting into a tolled situation.

You're completely missing the point of the OP and this thread. Most rental car visitors aren't going to be aware there ARE any toll roads here (1, count 'em, 1), and are not going to be aware of the special nature of tolls on it. There is next to no notification or warning about this situation, anywhere. Like an endless number of things in CO, it's just one of those super-special things you have to learn by tripping over them.

Yes, yes, they are all stupid people who get what they deserve. Got it.

[Moonwalkr]

Originally Posted by Quietude

You're completely missing the point of the OP and this thread. Most rental car visitors aren't going to be aware there ARE any toll roads here (1, count 'em, 1), and are not going to be aware of the special nature of tolls on it. There is next to no notification or warning about this situation, anywhere. Like an endless number of things in CO, it's just one of those super-special things you have to learn by tripping over them.

Yes, yes, they are all stupid people who get what they deserve. Got it.

Now now, no need to be rude and call our visitors names. 1) plug in address in nav app, 2) don't go on toll roads and profit. Guess what, you didn't even need to know there was a toll road to begin with!