495 Express Lanes (Orange: cost, car, commuting)

[Grsz11]

So, I was looking up some info on the Express Lanes. If you're HOV3 it is suppose to be free, but how do they know not to charge you?

[jzcrandall]

If I understand it correctly, you need to register your EZPass to take advantage of that. How they're going to enforce it I have no idea.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by Grsz11

So, I was looking up some info on the Express Lanes. If you're HOV3 it is suppose to be free, but how do they know not to charge you?

With the EZ-Pass Flex.

Virginia HOT Lanes

How will the tolling system distinguish between HOVs and Toll-Paying Customers?
All travelers on HOT Lanes in the region will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpools will need to get an E-ZPass Flex – a new product available next summer that works just like a regular E-ZPass but has a switch on the side. All carpoolers have to do is flip the switch to carpool mode and they won't be charged a toll.

State Troopers – funded by the project – will be stationed alongside to make sure those travelers who have switched to carpool mode have three people in the car.

Combined, these changes will substantially decrease violation rates from what we see on the existing HOV lanes today, where about one-in-four drivers are cheating during the restricted periods.

Will carpoolers be required to have an E-ZPass?
Yes, all users will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpoolers will use a new switchable E-ZPass that allows them to alert the system that they have three or more people in the vehicle so they will not be charged a toll. Additional police will provide enforcement.

By requiring users to have an E-ZPass, the HOV/HOT Lanes will be able to keep violators out of the lanes. Today, more than one-in-four vehicles on the existing HOV lanes on I-95 are violators.

[spencgr]

Originally Posted by OrangeFish

With the EZ-Pass Flex.

Virginia HOT Lanes

How will the tolling system distinguish between HOVs and Toll-Paying Customers?
All travelers on HOT Lanes in the region will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpools will need to get an E-ZPass Flex – a new product available next summer that works just like a regular E-ZPass but has a switch on the side. All carpoolers have to do is flip the switch to carpool mode and they won't be charged a toll.

State Troopers – funded by the project – will be stationed alongside to make sure those travelers who have switched to carpool mode have three people in the car.

Combined, these changes will substantially decrease violation rates from what we see on the existing HOV lanes today, where about one-in-four drivers are cheating during the restricted periods.

Will carpoolers be required to have an E-ZPass?
Yes, all users will be required to have an E-ZPass. Carpoolers will use a new switchable E-ZPass that allows them to alert the system that they have three or more people in the vehicle so they will not be charged a toll. Additional police will provide enforcement.

By requiring users to have an E-ZPass, the HOV/HOT Lanes will be able to keep violators out of the lanes. Today, more than one-in-four vehicles on the existing HOV lanes on I-95 are violators.

So, while I never anticipate being part of a "carpool" for commuting purposes, I'm sure I'll have an occasion where there are multiple people in my car and I want to use the HOT lanes. Can I get this Flex now? Does it cost?

[GustavoFring]

Here's my question. If I'm in the lanes and my switch is turned to "carpool" but I'm driving by myself, how will the tropper distinguish between me and just a regular toll payer? Is the switch supposed to be large enough that a cop can figure it out from a glance? This sounds to me like I'll just get a "Flex" device and then just drive (unfettered) in the toll lanes at all times of day with the "carpool" switch flicked on. Tell me they've thought beyond this..

[CaliTerp07]

Originally Posted by GustavoFring

Here's my question. If I'm in the lanes and my switch is turned to "carpool" but I'm driving by myself, how will the tropper distinguish between me and just a regular toll payer? Is the switch supposed to be large enough that a cop can figure it out from a glance? This sounds to me like I'll just get a "Flex" device and then just drive (unfettered) in the toll lanes at all times of day with the "carpool" switch flicked on. Tell me they've thought beyond this..

My guess is the signal for allowing you through will be different. 267 gives you a green light when the EZ Pass is read, maybe there will be a different color for carpool, to alert the cops to look at your car.

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by CaliTerp07

My guess is the signal for allowing you through will be different. 267 gives you a green light when the EZ Pass is read, maybe there will be a different color for carpool, to alert the cops to look at your car.

According to Tolls on the Capital Beltway in N Virginia- Transurban begins publicity for 495 Express Lanes | TOLLROADSnews, something will let police know if you've claimed to be HOV. They will then visually check.

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by spencgr

So, while I never anticipate being part of a "carpool" for commuting purposes, I'm sure I'll have an occasion where there are multiple people in my car and I want to use the HOT lanes. Can I get this Flex now? Does it cost?

As far as I can tell, the Flex would cost the same as any other EZ Pass, because you can use it the same, plus the bonus of using it to claim HOV.

[Fundman]

The state troopers will have an electronic scanner device that can read the signal on your EZ Pass as you drive by. If it says HOV and he only sees one person in the car he will pull you over. Virginia plans to start charging a $1 monthly fee for the EZ Pass device.

[boyd888]

My guess is that troopers will look for single drivers as the people to scan to see whether they switched over to the toll, as they will be the easiest to spot coming out of the toll booths. If you HOV some days and not others definitely make sure your ez pass is set correctly. If you HOV and forget to set it to HOV, then you're paying a toll when you don't have to...if you give people a ride one morning and then drive alone the next and forget to reset your ezpass....you're gonna get nailed by the police for a violation (forgetting to reset the ezpass is going to burn a lot of people).

Cars with only two people in the front (especially with tinted side windows) will likely be able to game the system as I seriously doubt the police will pull you over just to confirm there is a third person in the car unless they can clearly see there isn't.