Confused about HOV vs. toll roads on IH10 (Houston, Dallas: to buy, bills)

[hoffdano]

I was in Houston last weekend, driving from Austin. Our destination was downtown Houston. On IH10 westbound toward downtown - I was tempted to take the HOV lane (three people in the car), but did not want to pay tolls. The lanes for HOV and the Katy Tollway seem to be the same. Do you pay tolls no matter what when using the HOV lanes on IH10 in Houston? Or is it lane dependent?

Please straighten me out. Thanks.

[CDeb]

On the Katy Freeway (IH-10), the HOV and toll lanes are one in the same.

HOV users can use the lanes for free during the peak hours (inbound in the morning, outbound in the evening). You choose the lane signed "HOV" when you approach the toll gantry and you won't be charged for a toll.

At all other times, every vehicle pays a toll. Keep in mind that the Katy Tollway is all electronic, so you must have an EZ Tag or a TxTag.

[travelguy_73]

And on the weekend, it is toll only.

[carryyourbooks]

Originally Posted by travelguy_73

And on the weekend, it is toll only.

this should help explain it: https://www.hctra.org/tollroads/

[hoffdano]

Thanks all. NEXT time, I'll use the HOV (for free).

[Janisjo]

How do we pay for the toll

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by Janisjo

How do we pay for the toll

EZ Tag or TxTag. No cash.

[CommonSenseHoustonian]

Originally Posted by WRM20

EZ Tag or TxTag. No cash.

So silly. Dallas is so much better. They just mail a bill (not outrageous fine) to the vehicles registered address. You pay it online. Simple and fair.

The toll mafia is too strong here.

[WRM20]

Originally Posted by CommonSenseHoustonian

So silly. Dallas is so much better. They just mail a bill (not outrageous fine) to the vehicles registered address. You pay it online. Simple and fair.

The toll mafia is too strong here.

That happens in Austin as well. For HCTRA managed roads, they send you a $200 fine unless you call them up and say you used the road without a tag. Austin charges something like 50 cents for the mailed invoice.

I recommend getting a TxTag. It's free, and works on all of the toll roads in the state. The HCTRA EZ Tag is $20 to buy, but it does work everywhere.

[gwarnecke]

Agree 100%. HCTRA's system is very visitor-unfriendly. They should mail bills to untagged vehicles with a modest additional processing charge, a la Dallas, rather than a ridiculous punitive Violation fine.

In making this simple change, they'd also render all the BW8 toll plazas redundant, potentially saving a ton of operating expenses.