I-95 HOT Lanes aka "Toll road" (Woodbridge, Springfield: mall, moving to)

[johnsonkk]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Do you currently have an EZ Pass transmitter or would you get one? I haven't found the need to get one.

If you travel on the hot lanes and you don't have a transponder, then you can check the website within five days and the amount assessed to the toll is only a dollar or two. If you wait until its mailed, its an extra $15.

[airjay75]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

Do you currently have an EZ Pass transmitter or would you get one? I haven't found the need to get one.

Well, I moved here from Pennsylvania and already had one in both of our cars and have never gotten rid of them. Pennsylvania charges $3/year for each and I think they refunded the fee last year for some reason.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

If you travel on the hot lanes and you don't have a transponder, then you can check the website within five days and the amount assessed to the toll is only a dollar or two. If you wait until its mailed, its an extra $15.

I did know that. I've thought if I'm ever on the Beltway and it's slow, I might just do that.

[Grsz11]

Originally Posted by tgbwc

I did know that. I've thought if I'm ever on the Beltway and it's slow, I might just do that.

Or get an EZ Pass from a state like Massachusetts that charges no monthly or annual fee. I ordered mine from there since I don't use it frequently enough to justify to myself paying a fee, only when I travel back home to Pennsylvania and occasionally the Dulles Toll Road. Though I might switch to the Flex when 95 is done.

[tgbwc]

Originally Posted by Grsz11

Or get an EZ Pass from a state like Massachusetts that charges no monthly or annual fee. I ordered mine from there since I don't use it frequently enough to justify to myself paying a fee, only when I travel back home to Pennsylvania and occasionally the Dulles Toll Road. Though I might switch to the Flex when 95 is done.

We've thought about that. Like you, we just have really never needed it. That might change once the lanes on 95 turn to HOT lanes. Once in a blue moon (a few times a year) we run down to the Potomac Mills area and as a family of 3 we just jump on the HOV lanes from the Parkway if they are open.

[Spaten_Drinker]

Originally Posted by NOVA_guy

I'm probably being overly optimistic but I think it's going to work... or at least I'm hoping. Some days traffic is so bad I'll pay pretty much any amount just to get out of it.

Me too! You have to balance whether your time is worth the amount paid to take the EZPass lanes.

[johnsonkk]

Are the 95 HOT lanes going to switch direction or like the 495 beltway where they always have lanes going both directions?

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by johnsonkk

Are the 95 HOT lanes going to switch direction or like the 495 beltway where they always have lanes going both directions?

They will have to switch. There is no safe way for them to go in both directions.

[geekocaster]

here's what I don't get. On 495 hot lanes, the speed limit is 65 while the regular lanes are 55. there's only little plastic cone partitions separating the two sets of lanes. however if you 75 on the regular lanes you can get a ticket for reckless driving while on the hot lanes, you're only going 10 mph over posted limit. Even if there's no traffic on beltway I will always pay the fee to take hot lanes even though I think it's a rip off.

[johnsonkk]

And that 10 mph over in the express/HOT lanes is only 5mph away from the magical 80mph, which is RD. Even if there was a speed limit in VA of 75mph, a close 80mph is RD.

I don't always drive fast but when I do, I drive below 80. Drive safe my friend.