Not sure I'd advertise that

[smileyeagle1021]

I'm not sure if this is the right section, so mods feel free to move if needed.

So, on the freeways in Salt Lake we have toll express lanes, you pay a toll of between $.25 and $1 per zone depending on traffic. There are signs every so often on the freeway that advertise how long it takes in the express lanes vs the main freeway. For the last two days there has been a sign at 45th south that says "time to Bangerter highway vie Express 11 minutes, via Mainline 10 minutes"

Okay, so you honestly expect me to pay $0.50 minimum (two zones from 45th to Bangerter) to take a minute longer... terrifying thing, people actually do

[KiaKat]

It could be similar to the signs on the Staten Island Expressway - the lowest time they can show on the board is based on going the speed limit (55mph) which would get you either killed or pulled over for obstructing traffic. So even though it may say 11 minutes to the Goethals Bridge, it's actually more like 8 or 9 if you're going with traffic.

[Sleepwalker]

It could be similar to the signs on the Staten Island Expressway - the lowest time they can show on the board is based on going the speed limit (55mph) which would get you either killed or pulled over for obstructing traffic. So even though it may say 11 minutes to the Goethals Bridge, it's actually more like 8 or 9 if you're going with traffic.

Our city's online traffic maps are similar. The lowest the speed limit is along any of the various major toll routes and freeways is 45- therefore, 45 mph is green, 25-45 yellow, and lower than that red on the traffic maps. Mind you, some of the toll routes go up to 75mph so 45 would actually be serious traffic.

[flybye023]

So, Smiley. This may be a dumb question but we were just driving through SLC a week ago and using the HOV lane. I saw a lot of signs warning about tolls and such but how do they know who gets charged the toll and how do they collect it? I never saw any kind of station or booth or anything.

[Shalom]

It could be similar to the signs on the Staten Island Expressway - the lowest time they can show on the board is based on going the speed limit (55mph) which would get you either killed or pulled over for obstructing traffic. So even though it may say 11 minutes to the Goethals Bridge, it's actually more like 8 or 9 if you're going with traffic.

The eastbound signs are pretty accurate, though. When it says you're going to take 14 minutes to get to the Verrazano (which if there's no traffic should take about six minutes), it's going to take that long.

(I don't know what time of the day you're driving, but the vast majority of the times I hit the SIE, the only way you can do the speed limit is if you have a monster truck and run over the top of everyone. I don't know what the hell it is about Todt Hill, but there's always traffic, from both ends of the island to the top of the hill. I don't know what they can do to fix this either. You can't put an extra lane for slow moving traffic like they do in Jersey, because all the me-firsters would just use it to pass everyone on the right, and cause even more congestion when they try to cut back in at the end of the lane. I abominate driving in NYC, but I don't have any choice in the matter given that most of my family lives there.)

Oh yeah, the speed limit is 50. I don't think there's a 55 limit anywhere within the city limits.

[smileyeagle1021]

So, Smiley. This may be a dumb question but we were just driving through SLC a week ago and using the HOV lane. I saw a lot of signs warning about tolls and such but how do they know who gets charged the toll and how do they collect it? I never saw any kind of station or booth or anything.

If you wish to use the lane for toll rather than carpool you need to have a transponder, which when turned on will charge the appropriate toll when you drive under the signs. If you do have a transponder you can turn it off if you have a carpool. On the back side of the sign there is a light that will flash green whenever someone drives beneath and has a toll charged to their transponder. There will be cops randomly placed ahead of the signs who can see whether or not the green light lights up, green light doesn't light up they check to make sure that there is at least two people in the car. No green light, only one person in the car, and cop pulls you over and issues a ticket a lot more expensive than buying the transponder and paying the toll (transponders are something like $8.50).

[Ironclad Alibi]

If you wish to use the lane for toll rather than carpool you need to have a transponder, which when turned on will charge the appropriate toll when you drive under the signs.

I have been wondering how that works. The beltway around DC in Virginia is presently under construction building High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes, as well as a few interchanges where the new subway line crosses.

We presently have the EZ-Pass system in the area for toll roads, but it won't work for the HOT lanes since there is no on-off switch. I'm guessing those using the HOT lanes will need a second transponder.

[Andara Bledin]

We presently have the EZ-Pass system in the area for toll roads, but it won't work for the HOT lanes since there is no on-off switch. I'm guessing those using the HOT lanes will need a second transponder.

Actually, no. There are sections of EZ Pass toll lanes on the 91 freeway that I've passed while heading out of town, and those who have an EZ Pass but are carpooling take a separate lane from the rest of the EZ Pass traffic. That's the lane closest to the center of the freeway so they can be visually reviewed by the booth people as they go by to ensure they are carpools. People using that lane get scanned, but don't get charged.

I've never had one myself, since I just don't drive out that way much, but my mother and aunt had one when they still lived out in this area because they'd have to go out and back on weekends for their shows.

^-.-^

[Ironclad Alibi]

That is a possibility for my area. I haven't heard how they intend to charge the tolls.