I-95 HOT Lanes aka "Toll road" (Franconia, Springfield: closing, vs.)

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

We decided to wait a few hours until all (most) of the wrecks were cleared. Normally would have left at 9 to head up on hov. Oops, not anymore since all lanes now are pay(toll) lanes after 9am. Took backroads with three people in the car.

Ah the good old days are missed already....

With three people in the car, you could have still taken the express lanes with no toll.

According to this site, it's free 24 hours a day as long as you have at least three people.

https://www.expresslanes.com/using-the-lanes

[The Dissenter]

Question; how long is it taking for the actual debits to hit your EZpass account? I took those lanes Friday and Saturday and they haven't debited my account yet. When I take the EZ pass in OH and PA the account is usually debited by now.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by The Dissenter

Question; how long is it taking for the actual debits to hit your EZpass account? I took those lanes Friday and Saturday and they haven't debited my account yet. When I take the EZ pass in OH and PA the account is usually debited by now.

The website says it can take 7 days; however, I took it on 12/29 (first day of tolls) and it still has not showed up on my account.

[Fallout Zone]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

We decided to wait a few hours until all (most) of the wrecks were cleared. Normally would have left at 9 to head up on hov. Oops, not anymore since all lanes now are pay(toll) lanes after 9am. Took backroads with three people in the car.

Ah the good old days are missed already....

Um, there is no toll for 3 people in the car. You do have to have the new EZ-Pass though, the one that lets you toggle.

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by Fallout Zone

Um, there is no toll for 3 people in the car. You do have to have the new EZ-Pass though, the one that lets you toggle.

This I did not know. Thanks to the earlier post with that bit of info. The other reason still not to jump into HOT lanes Tuesday morning was a wreck near Newington just south of Springfield. At least that is what the traffic app indicated with backed up red roads. Usually correct in showing wrecks without having to experience them. Thanks again to all for that info and yes, already have a ez pass flex.

[ChristineVA]

So, I think today was the first normal day of traffic since the holidays.

I have determined that I95 Northbound is probably going to be much slower between Dumfries and the Occoquan exit. I *never* have that happen at 5:30AM and I've seen a pattern now. All those single riders coming up from the south are now OUT of the express lanes and using the regular lanes. The area of 95 I just described is famously "tight" because it's a high volume exit/entry area, plus there's the bridge (and God knows how we all have to slow down on a bridge that goes uphill). After the Occoquan it opens up quite nicely and the rest of the ride is fine.

Today, coming home (again earlyish), I was slow from Lorton passed the Occoquan, then fine. I think this is my new normal.

I would say that the opening of the HOT lanes and me not using them, has added 5-10 minutes to my commute.

[StandBack-DoorsClosing]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

So, I think today was the first normal day of traffic since the holidays.

I have determined that I95 Northbound is probably going to be much slower between Dumfries and the Occoquan exit. I *never* have that happen at 5:30AM and I've seen a pattern now. All those single riders coming up from the south are now OUT of the express lanes and using the regular lanes. The area of 95 I just described is famously "tight" because it's a high volume exit/entry area, plus there's the bridge (and God knows how we all have to slow down on a bridge that goes uphill). After the Occoquan it opens up quite nicely and the rest of the ride is fine.

Today, coming home (again earlyish), I was slow from Lorton passed the Occoquan, then fine. I think this is my new normal.

I would say that the opening of the HOT lanes and me not using them, has added 5-10 minutes to my commute.

Agreed. These are the two usual spots where the delays start to grow during rush hour, and they are both starting earlier now. 10 extra minutes sounds about right for the early birds. I wonder how much that compounds in, say, the following hour.

[roninsedge]

What I truly love is that the price to go from Rte 1 to Rte 123 on the express lanes is usually $2.50 or higher in the evenings. That is literally one exit but around the most consistently bumper to bumper stretch of 95.

[gomason]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

What I truly love is that the price to go from Rte 1 to Rte 123 on the express lanes is usually $2.50 or higher in the evenings. That is literally one exit but around the most consistently bumper to bumper stretch of 95.

If I were a daily commuter on I-95, I would probably use the Express Lanes most around the Occoquan Bridge and then get back into the main lanes. That would be most efficient.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by roninsedge

What I truly love is that the price to go from Rte 1 to Rte 123 on the express lanes is usually $2.50 or higher in the evenings. That is literally one exit but around the most consistently bumper to bumper stretch of 95.

And because of the Rt. 1 Exit and Express Lanes exit being so close to one another, the backup in the left lane is ridiculous. I'm not sure if it's better to wait in that back-up or just cross the bridge using the main lanes.