December 31, 2008
Y EZPass?
So the point of setting up EZPass on the Newport Pell Bridge is to faciliate the flow of traffic, right? Okay, I'll say what seems to have escaped the attention of the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority.
This isn't New York or New Jersey. Using tokens, has anyone ever had to wait longer than three minutes to make it through that toll plaza? There isn't enough traffic to warrant the hassle and expense, on the part of both the RITBA and drivers, of EZPass. So can someone explain why we're doing it? Is it now axiomatic that digital is always better than analogue? Was it just because, like Everest, the federal funds were there? Or, worst of all, are we trying inexplicably to ingratiate ourselves with out of state drivers annoyed that their out of state transponders don't work at Rhode Island's only toll plaza?
Further, Charlie Hall has a point about some potential issues of execution.
It's step one, I fear. Soon Newport Bridge will not be "Rhode Island's only toll plaza".
Posted by: mikeinRI at December 31, 2008 9:15 AMI afraid MikeinRI has nailed this one. The more people you set up with transponders early on, the easier it will be to implement tolls eslewhere. Be afraid, be very afraid!
Posted by: bobc at December 31, 2008 2:45 PME-ZPass was the brain child of Governors Carcieri’s Fiscal Fitness Team due to the perception that if E-Zpass was installed CT, NJ, and NY drivers traveling to Cape Cod during the summer would use the Newport Bridge and I-195 bypassing traveling through Providence to I-195.
In essence, E-ZPass gets its money up front before you even start using the toll booth.
With E-ZPass drivers establish an account, prepay tolls and attach a small electronic device (Transponder) to their vehicles. Tolls are automatically deducted from the prepaid account as an E-ZPass customer passes through the toll lane.
E-ZPass customer account is prepaid based on six weeks usage.
An E-ZPass customer account is flagged at or below the 50% minimum amount that customer must maintain in their account based on usage.
The costs of transponders are as follows: Interior or Exterior: 1st $10.00, 2nd $15.00, 3rd and 4th $20.95 each.
Customers are responsible for lost or stolen transponders and must reimburse E-ZPass at full price $20.95.
Customer accounts will be charged $1.00 monthly for printed statements.
There are other administrative charges that may apply to a customer account.
E=Zpass Q & A page link:
http://www.ezpassritba.com/static/terms/ind_tc.pdf
Posted by: Ken at December 31, 2008 4:38 PMKen,
Thanks for that informational comment. However, I don't think that the theme here is what is EZ-pass, but rather what are the implications of implementing said technology.
MAYBE YOU CAN HELP, wHAT IS THE PROPER WAY TO MOUNT YOUR TRANSPONDER.
Posted by: leogrande32@verizon.net at January 23, 2009 6:07 PM