Article: Turnpike toll plan would be costly without E-ZPass (Erie: rental car, rental)

[Velvet Jones]

Turnpike toll plan would be costly without E-ZPass

An interesting article on the PG website this morning. I'm really worried that this will make it past the legislature. I've driven through these new unmanned booths in Denver(they have them on the outer beltway), and while they're nice for low traffic areas I doubt they would work well on the high traffic exists on the turnpike. I also don't like the fact that these essentially re-direct a nice chunk of toll revenue to private companies. For all the complaining about toll booth workers making $12/hour, I am highly skeptical that this will save a dime. This little tidbit in the article increases my suspicion:

The report estimated it would cost $320 million to install all-electronic tolling on the turnpike, and about $83 million a year to operate it.

All-electronic tolling would save money by eliminating the cost of toll collectors -- currently $65 million a year.

I hope there is some extra costs associated with the current system on top of that $65 million, otherwise someone has some explaining to do. Probably not, just more typical government math.

[ferraris]

We already have EZ Pass in Pennsylvania. I'm quite happy with it. It sounds like Denver has them set up like the Ohio Turnpike, where you still have to come to a near total stop. The PA EZ pass has booths like that, but I hope they can all get set up like the one at the PA/OH state line, you just go into the EZ pass lanes and maintain a speed of 55mph and that's it. It's a piece of cake.

My main beef with EZ pass is that I don't like re-upping to $35 on my account when I only need $4 and change at at a time. Most trips feel free because of this, but some trips feel extra expensive.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Velvet Jones

The report estimated it would cost $320 million to install all-electronic tolling on the turnpike, and about $83 million a year to operate it.

All-electronic tolling would save money by eliminating the cost of toll collectors -- currently $65 million a year.

I saw that same thing earlier and had the same WTF reaction.

I mean, clearly, I can see the toll takers being a big cost. Supposedly they make a lot of money for an unskilled job. But what is the point of eliminating them if it costs MORE? That's just stupid.

Plus, I'm trying to figure out scenarios that don't work well for E-ZPass. Like when I rent a car to drive to DC for work. Yes, in theory I could take my own personal E-ZPass, but if it misreads for some reason I need to have it tied to the car, which means registering its plate, which means remembering to unregister its plate, and so on. Sometimes you can use the car rental's service for that (at extra fee on top of toll, which is not too bad for work), but if it doesn't have a transponder in the car, I can't. So then they would mail the rental car company the bill, and the company would charge me more for dealing with that, usually $25 service fee or such, on top of the crazy increased tolls.

I think they could cut way down on toll takers and try to remove more barriers and such, but doing totally away with them seems odd, especially if it's not going to save money.

[gg]

I love EZ Pass. I can't imagine not having it. I see people waiting in those lines and I don't get it. My favorite is the high speed ones. You don't even have to slow down. The one at the OH/PA line and there are several on the road down to Cal U/Uniontown. Don't even slow down. Huge savings in fuel/pollution by maintaining speed. Go EZ Pass!

[greg42]

Originally Posted by ferrarisnowday

My main beef with EZ pass is that I don't like re-upping to $35 on my account when I only need $4 and change at at a time. Most trips feel free because of this, but some trips feel extra expensive.

There is, to my knowledge, at least one remaining E-ZPass you can get with no fee, and they only refill at $25. You can get it from the Peace Bridge Authority (technically the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority).

I've had two different E-ZPasses, first from the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (never used their bridges while I had it). Then, when they instituted a MONTHLY fee (rip off), I closed that and got one from the Peace Bridge (never used the Peace Bridge with it either). Both only refill for $25 (instead of PTC $35) and not until you drop below $10.

One is under no obligation to get the E-ZPass from the state or other jurisdiction they live in/near. People who live outside the area get E-ZPass from a state within that area for their travels. People routinely got the Maryland pass back when they didn't charge an annual fee or whatever they charge now. And so on.

[BrianTH]

At a guess, that annual operating charge includes what they already have to pay to operate EZPass. So the actual question would be what additional operating charge they would occur.

[scrapp]

Originally Posted by greg42

There is, to my knowledge, at least one remaining E-ZPass you can get with no fee, and they only refill at $25. You can get it from the Peace Bridge Authority (technically the Buffalo and Fort Erie Public Bridge Authority).

I've had two different E-ZPasses, first from the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (never used their bridges while I had it). Then, when they instituted a MONTHLY fee (rip off), I closed that and got one from the Peace Bridge (never used the Peace Bridge with it either). Both only refill for $25 (instead of PTC $35) and not until you drop below $10.

E-ZPass is a great business. They get to both charge you a periodic fee, and they refill everyone's account at the $35 level and then get to sit on a huge mound of your cash until you get around to actually using the toll.

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by scrapp

E-ZPass is a great business. They get to both charge you a periodic fee, and they refill everyone's account at the $35 level and then get to sit on a huge mound of your cash until you get around to actually using the toll.

And since they automatically reload once your balance is below $10, they have a certain amount of your money trapped. I love falling to a $9 balance, enough for 2 prepaid trips to Ohio, but somehow being charged $26 for it instead.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by scrapp

E-ZPass is a great business. They get to both charge you a periodic fee, and they refill everyone's account at the $35 level and then get to sit on a huge mound of your cash until you get around to actually using the toll.

I like having to pay extra if I don't want to use this "service."

[greg42]

Originally Posted by scrapp

E-ZPass is a great business. They get to both charge you a periodic fee, and they refill everyone's account at the $35 level and then get to sit on a huge mound of your cash until you get around to actually using the toll.

They do sit on the cash, yes. Peace Bridge does not charge you any periodic fee at all and they refill at $25 level.

At this point you get charged less on the turnpike for E-ZPass vs not, so that is the payoff (as well as not having to wait in lines, etc.) for having your cash tied up.

The discount is for any E-ZPass, so you can get the free one from the Peace Bridge and have less of your money tied up and no fees and get the discounted PA Turnpike toll rates, as well as use it for any other E-ZPass service (basically all northeast and midwest states, not sure where else, NOT Florida).