Occupy the Greenway? (Norfolk, Chesapeake, Arlington: credit card, to buy, costs)

[saganista]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I suppose a salesman might sign up for the 15% reward. The typical driver would want the 5% program. According to their website, you qualify for the 5% bonus check by making 180 trips over the course of a year. This averages out to less than two round trips per week over 52 weeks. They claim they've distributed over $2 million in VIP bonus checks so far, so it sounds like there are people who use it.

The point is that the 15% rebate level was invented at all only for use as a phony advertising meme to plant in the public mind. It's just another example of corporate dishonesty.

Meanwhile, almost nobody signs up. Everyone who uses EZ-Pass is enrolled automatically. "So far" means since 1998...fourteen years...an average of less than $150K per year. Average tolls collected on the Greenway are meanwhile in excess of $200K per day.

[saganista]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

Seriously, though, I don't see where the Greenway/Dulles Toll Road are any different than any other toll road -- The Chesaspeake Bay Bridge, the new Intercounty Connector in Montgomery County, the Baltimore Tunnel.

Well, the Greenway happens to be privately owned for one thing. And at about 42 cents per mile, its maximum toll for a two-axle vehicle is surpassed only by that on the Chicago Skyway at 46 cents per mile. Even the notorious Delaware Turnpike is only 36 cents per mile. Coincidence?

[cdmurphy]

Originally Posted by saganista

The point is that the 15% rebate level was invented at all only for use as a phony advertising meme to plant in the public mind. It's just another example of corporate dishonesty.

Meanwhile, almost nobody signs up. Everyone who uses EZ-Pass is enrolled automatically. "So far" means since 1998...fourteen years...an average of less than $150K per year. Average tolls collected on the Greenway are meanwhile in excess of $200K per day.

Here are the nitty-gritty details:

TRIP II Financial Statements (2010 and 2009)

and an index to previous years


Also, you are *not* automatically enrolled in VIP with an EZ-Pass. You have to provide them with your transponder number. VIP Program Overview (Found that one out the hard way - the checks stopped coming - realized that when we'd had to replace our transponder due to a battery failure, we didn't re-register with VIP)

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by saganista

The point is that the 15% rebate level was invented at all only for use as a phony advertising meme to plant in the public mind.

Maybe I would buy this theory if they spent a lot of time advertising it. If they had some Crystal Koons type ads constantly running on every station saying "Y'all drive on the Greenway and get a 15% rebate." But I don't see ads promoting this program, do you? In fact I'll bet most people on this forum didn't even know about it until it came up today. I know I didn't--I had to look on their website to see what you were talking about.

Originally Posted by saganista

Meanwhile, almost nobody signs up. Everyone who uses EZ-Pass is enrolled automatically. "So far" means since 1998...fourteen years...an average of less than $150K per year. Average tolls collected on the Greenway are meanwhile in excess of $200K per day.

Why does this bother you? It wouldn't be the first business to start a rewards program that wasn't widely taken advantage of. Personally I think they'd get more takers if they'd advertise it, but maybe they don't really want to promote it that much. Could be they decided they don't need to push the rewards program because they already enough drivers (after all the big selling point of this road is that it's not crowded). I think maybe you're angry that somebody built a road as a business venture, as if that's not a proper business to own. I get the impression you you think roads must belong to "the people." Or maybe you're just angry because it's a successful business?

[oneasterisk]

I personally don't believe in paying tolls. I don't care if it's public or private road. I'm cheap and will avoid it if able. There's a reason my GPS has toll avoidance set

Now it was the Nurburgring, sign me up for a season pass...

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by saganista

Well, the Greenway happens to be privately owned for one thing. And at about 42 cents per mile, its maximum toll for a two-axle vehicle is surpassed only by that on the Chicago Skyway at 46 cents per mile. Even the notorious Delaware Turnpike is only 36 cents per mile. Coincidence?

I understand it is a private road. But how is it different than paying to park in a private parking lot -- like at Redskins games? or paying for the use of any other business? No one is forcing anyone to drive on the Greenway. Route 7 and other roads are available.

The owners are paying taxes on the property that they legally purchased to build the road. Think of it as a very long, skinny parking lot (which is what it is occasionally).

[saganista]

Originally Posted by cdmurphy

Also, you are *not* automatically enrolled in VIP with an EZ-Pass. You have to provide them with your transponder number. VIP Program Overview (Found that one out the hard way - the checks stopped coming - realized that when we'd had to replace our transponder due to a battery failure, we didn't re-register with VIP)

On further review, you're right about that. I misinterpreted the Greenway website's use of the term "to qualify", and you do first have to provide TRIP II with an EZ-Pass transponder number, and the transponder must have been issued by Virginia in order to be eligible. As you say, checks stop coming if you fail to report any change in responder status. Costly.

[spleuchan]

Originally Posted by LynchburgLover

Seriously, though, I don't see where the Greenway/Dulles Toll Road are any different than any other toll road -- The Chesaspeake Bay Bridge, the new Intercounty Connector in Montgomery County, the Baltimore Tunnel.

I see one big difference. The Greenway is located in Virginia, while those other ones are in Maryland. A little more is expected of Virginia than Maryland.

For some reason I just feel better paying for a toll on a bridge than just a road. Driving up north on I-95 drives me crazy with the toll wars going on for what seems to be regular stretches of road.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by oneasterisk

I personally don't believe in paying tolls. I don't care if it's public or private road. I'm cheap and will avoid it if able.

LOL, I'm the same. I'll defend their right to charge what they want but I'm too frugal to use it myself. I really don't think Rt. 7 is that bad. (But.... I'm sure glad other drivers like it. Keeps 'em off my road. )

[LynchburgLover]

Originally Posted by spleuchan

I see one big difference. The Greenway is located in Virginia, while those other ones are in Maryland. A little more is expected of Virginia than Maryland.

For some reason I just feel better paying for a toll on a bridge than just a road. Driving up north on I-95 drives me crazy with the toll wars going on for what seems to be regular stretches of road.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is in Virginia between Norfolk and the Eastern Shore.

But, if anything, people should be annoyed about paying tolls on public roads -- kind of double paying -- first taxes and then a toll. At least the Greenway is a private road, privately maintained and you know it when you get on it.