New York City - [semi-rant] Why would you live & drive in NY/NJ and not have a EZ-Pass?

After spending an hour in inbound Lincoln Tunnel traffic at 2 a.m., all due to no one having an EZ-Pass, I am baffled. Since there are plenty of NY/NJers who frequent this forum, perhaps you can shed some light on this. Even if you don't have reason to frequent Manhattan, NJ residents have the GSP and Turnpike to contend with. Why on earth would anyone with a car in this area NOT have an EZ-Pass!?!?!:mad::confused::mad::confused:

If you are using your car as a getaway vehicle

The usual excuse used over and over and over again is they don't want their movements tracked. They want to go to Jersey and back and not have anybody have an easily accessible record of it (the EZ Pass Record).

I totally feel your pain, it happens on other places (the George Washington, the New Rochelle Tolls, etc) where at night the cash only line is so long it blocks access to the dozen open EZ Pass Lanes.

The Staten Island Borough President just last week asked the MTA:

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Use E-ZPass, or pay a buck more to use Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bridges and tunnels.

That's Borough President James Molinaro's suggestion to MTA honchos, saying that the policy would add $77 million to the beleaguered authority's coffers, smooth traffic flow and improve the environment.

"E-ZPass users shouldn't be inconvenienced by having to wait on line behind the cash-payers, not to mention all the pollution that's caused by the idling vehicles on the toll plaza," Molinaro wrote in a letter to Chairman & CEO Jay H. Walder and Staten Island representative Allen Cappelli.

I think a buck is not anywhere near enough

I think a buck is not anywhere near enough

Amen. Double!

For some reason, it's far worse in the Boston area, where a seemingly higher proportion of drivers do not have a FastLane transponder, Massachusetts's EZ Pass equivalent.

I've often wondered about this myself. I don't even own a car and I have an EZ Pass.

I think VERY few of the people you see lined up to pay cash are doing it because of EZ Pass privacy concerns, however. I think the vast majority have very short-sighted economic mindsets or are just too lazy to get an EZ Pass.

Also, the default EZ Pass issuing authorities for NY and NJ if you click those states on the EZ Pass website charge a $1/mo fee that I'll bet turns off a lot of people who don't use toll roads very often.

Does anybody know if it's still possible to get an EZ Pass through MTA Bridges and Tunnels without the $1/mo PANYNJ service fee?

When I signed up a few years ago, linking through the EZ Pass links on mta.info took me to a different signup page on ezpassny.com that didn't have the $1 fee that showed up if you went directly through ezpassny.com (or through one of the other authorities' websites). And I've never paid anything on my EZ Pass except the tolls charged.

But this thread reminded me that I should make my sister sign up for one since she's driving down from upstate more these days, and it looks like mta.info now links to the same $1/mo fee page as all the other NY authorities. :td:

I can't say for all states, but do know that many states have imposed fees as people rushed to them when they did not have fees. As each state would add a monthly fee, people would seek out the states that did not have it and apply there. From last year:

The Maryland Transportation Authority initially did not charge fees. But it cost so much to deal with out-of-staters who had accounts -- but never drove in Maryland -- that the state began charging $1.50 per month for service and $21 for the transponder on July 1, Crawford said.

About 72,000 of the state's roughly 535,000 E-ZPass account-holders hadn't used their transponders to pay a Maryland toll in the past year and the annual cost of maintaining those dormant accounts was $1.9 million, the Baltimore Sun reported.

Pennsylvania gets a $3 yearly fee, that's probably as low as it gets, some states take $1.50 a month.

The Peace Bridge EZ pass in upstate New York (not the same as the one in the rest of the state) use to be fee free, Don't know if that's still the case or not.

At all of the rest stops on the Garden State Pkwy and the Jersey Tpke the signs for the rest area note that you can get an EZ-Pass there; the lines for CASH at the toll barriers can easily be an hour. Even if one had to pay an extra fee, getting an EZ-Pass is certainly worth it as a time saver. The casual "summer" traveler could just cancel his account at the end of August.:)

I can't say for all states, but do know that many states have imposed fees as people rushed to them when they did not have fees. As each state would add a monthly fee, people would seek out the states that did not have it and apply there.

Yeah. I applied through MTA Bridges and Tunnels specifically because MTA didn't have the $1/mo fee when the default NY authority did. If they are charging a fee now, I seem to have been grandfathered in.

Wikipedia's list of fees by agency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass#Account_fees_by_agency) still shows MTA (and NYS Thruway) not having a fee, however, so I wonder if maybe if you apply directly (rather than online) you can still get an EZ Pass without a fee?

The Peace Bridge Authority does appear to still be fee free, but it says on their website that they reserve the right to close accounts who don't actually use the bridge. And when you go to apply as a New Yorker, it asks if you intend to use the Peace Bridge. If you click yes, it gives you the Peace Bridge Authority application. If you say no, it redirects to the regular NY application with the $1 fee.

When they first came out with electronic tags for the toll roads here in Dallas, there was both a monthly fee and a small per-toll surcharge for tag users. The tags were not very popular. Later, they dropped those fees, and finally, changed to a system where tag users pay less than cash/non-tag users.

Now that they save money, the vast majority of toll road users have the tags.

The SI Prez has the right idea.

I think the vast majority have very short-sighted economic mindsets or are just too lazy to get an EZ Pass.
I fully agree with that. There are an awful lot of people who have drivers' licenses but not a lot of brains (for an illustration of this, just look around you the next time you're waiting at DMV!)

All this monthly fee discussion surprised me. I live in Delaware and there's no fee, unless you opt to receive a paper statement every month.

I thank God (or more accurately, I thank my Amtrak Guest Rewards account!) that I rarely have to drive through the tunnels into Manhattan. Getting stuck behind that clog of idiots while waiting to reach the clear-as-a-bell EZ-Pass lane would drive me completely over the edge.

Wikipedia is correct. If you get an EZPass with the label with MTA Bridges & Tunnels or New York State Thruway, it's fee-free. PANYNJ are charged $1. MTA B&T used to charge a $1 fee, but the NY state legislature (if I recall correctly) told them to stop (through legislation).

You can definitely get a non-PANYNJ tag, although I'm not sure of the exact process (it might be as simple as writing a note in the paper application).

The Staten Island Borough President just last week asked the MTA:

[B]STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Use E-ZPass, or pay a buck more to use Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bridges and tunnels.
Wait a second -- isn't the toll already higher for cash vs. EZPass???

Wait a second -- isn't the toll already higher for cash vs. EZPass???

In some locations, only during non rush hour, in others the discount is less than a dollar. I think he wants to include rush hour too for the discount.

Just a guess here, but the way it's worded he wants to up the cash fare another buck instead of discount it for EZ pass use.

Not sure if this has been covered but you need to link an EZ-Pass to a credit card and there are people who dont have credit or simply do not use a credit card. Stupid as this may be, this is partially the reason.

Not sure if this has been covered but you need to link an EZ-Pass to a credit card and there are people who dont have credit or simply do not use a credit card.

Not true. You can replenish your EZPass Account (at least, in the NY CSC) via check or money order by mail or in person. Of course, given the price of tolls in the New York metro area, you better give them a big check or money order if you plan on going through often.

Not sure if this has been covered but you need to link an EZ-Pass to a credit card and there are people who dont have credit or simply do not use a credit card. Stupid as this may be, this is partially the reason.

That's not the case in every state. It may depend on the state it was issued in, but in Jersey for example (I went years without it being tied to a credit card because it was a pain to change that when your bank is taken over by another one)


How can I pay for my E-ZPass account usage?

If you are a credit card customer, you don’t have to worry about account replenishment. Your account will be automatically replenished whenever your account balance falls below the minimum required. If you are a check or cash customer, you will receive a low balance message in the toll lane when your account falls below 50% of your replenishment amount.

If you pay by check, you can mail your payment to the

E-ZPass Customer Service Center:
PO Box 52002
Newark, NJ 07101-8201

Though it's of course much easier to either go online and refill it by credit card when you are low or have it linked to your card so it just refills itself when necessary.

I can't imagine driving without the EZ Pass whether to visit family in NJ or LI or driving to/from Maine. Who needs the hassle.

EZ Pass has been a huge timesaver for me and especially now that it can be used at so many toll locations in the NY Metro area.

I lived in New York for 19 years and used to use an EZ-Pass when I drove anywhere that took them. Unfortunately I moved and gave up the EZ-Pass. Twice I visited and rented a car and I had to use the Whitestone and Triboro with cash :(

Also, this is my friend's Facebook status right now: "I hate traffic before the whitestone...whoooo still uses cash?!?!"

For a short time my EZPass was charging and then it stopped. Right now I am an occasional bridge crosser but it is well worth having the pass. I've used it at JFK parking too--definitely a plus there!

I moved to the Hudson Valley area 3 weeks ago and had an EZ Pass waiting for me when I arrived.

The other night we crossed the Bear Mountain Bridge and my daughter, who was driving, asked if we should get in the EZ PAss lane which had 4 cars in it or the cash lane which had 2. I thold her always get in the EZPASS lane. Sure enough we were cleared the EZPass Lane before the other 2 cleared the cash lane.

Not having one is crazy.

Not sure if this has been covered but you need to link an EZ-Pass to a credit card and there are people who dont have credit or simply do not use a credit card. Stupid as this may be, this is partially the reason.


I am sure that there are very few FTers who have that issue.;)

If they are worried about hordes of out-of-staters having inactive accounts, why not prove you have an in-state or adjoining state's driver's license, to avoid a fee? Or have some sort of fee for inactivity after 6 months or something?

Because they make way more money by collecting it from everybody. The reasons are just excuses for them to justify the money they collect.

Time to go Sydney/Melbourne style. All cars expected to have EZPass eqiuvalent = no toll booths. Don't have one? 24 hours to go online/call and pay much higher toll or get fine in the mail. Works like a charm.

Time to go Sydney/Melbourne style. All cars expected to have EZPass eqiuvalent = no toll booths. Don't have one? 24 hours to go online/call and pay much higher toll or get fine in the mail. Works like a charm.

There are toll booths around Chicago that have the same system. I found the online payment method worked great.

Does anybody know if it's still possible to get an EZ Pass through MTA Bridges and Tunnels without the $1/mo PANYNJ service fee?

This is the first time I've ever heard of there being a monthly fee. I am not charged one.

In some locations, only during non rush hour, in others the discount is less than a dollar. I think he wants to include rush hour too for the discount.

The EZ-Pass discount on bridges/tunnels applies at all hours of the day. I just checked my statement, and the Midtown/Lincoln/Holland tunnels are all $4.57 no matter the time of day. I know the cash toll during rush hour is $8, but I don't know what the off-peak cash toll is. Basically, with EZ-Pass there is a fixed, lower price for all tolls irrespective of peak/off-peak hours.

If you are using your car as a getaway vehicle

True, but every car is photographed, so true fugitives wouldn't get much of a benefit from ditching the EZ-Pass.

But you brought to mind an annoying situation involving a coworker. He has an EZ-Pass, but rarely uses it. He prefers to hitch rides with other coworkers and pay cash tolls so that he has a receipt. He then submits his expense report, along with the cash toll receipt, as if he drove his own car. He has been doing this for around ten years, equating to tens of thousands of dollars bilked from the company. I brought this to the attention of numerous high-level executives, the CFO, and the corporate compliance officer-- and no one cares. Because the other workers giving him a ride are complicit in the matter, it would involve firing everyone in the department except me. I was told that it was too much trouble to have to deal with rebuilding the department. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

But you brought to mind an annoying situation involving a coworker. He has an EZ-Pass, but rarely uses it. He prefers to hitch rides with other coworkers and pay cash tolls so that he has a receipt. He then submits his expense report, along with the cash toll receipt, as if he drove his own car. He has been doing this for around ten years, equating to tens of thousands of dollars bilked from the company. I brought this to the attention of numerous high-level executives, the CFO, and the corporate compliance officer-- and no one cares. Because the other workers giving him a ride are complicit in the matter, it would involve firing everyone in the department except me. I was told that it was too much trouble to have to deal with rebuilding the department. I feel like I'm taking crazy pills here.

Your company reimburses employees for commuting?

If THE OP has an eazy pass he/she should use the EP lane.

If he/she does not have an EP account why not? and he/she then deserves to wait in traffic.

ralph

Your company reimburses employees for commuting?

Not to the office. But when they drive to any of over 100 hospitals, yes.

If THE OP has an eazy pass he/she should use the EP lane.

If he/she does not have an EP account why not? and he/she then deserves to wait in traffic.

ralph

I guess you don't have the same traffic woes in Rochester, then? When the number of cars waiting to pay a cash toll is so large that it backs up for 5-10 miles, there is no option to go around. There are no EZ-Pass lanes available because you are parked on the expressway, miles from the toll booth.

The EZ-Pass discount on bridges/tunnels applies at all hours of the day. I just checked my statement, and the Midtown/Lincoln/Holland tunnels are all $4.57 no matter the time of day. I know the cash toll during rush hour is $8, but I don't know what the off-peak cash toll is. Basically, with EZ-Pass there is a fixed, lower price for all tolls irrespective of peak/off-peak hours.

The Queens-Midtown Tunnel is fixed at $4.57, regardless of time of day, as long as your EZPass is issued by a New York-based agency in the New York City Metropolitan Area. All the MTA Bridges and Tunnels are set up in that way. (The rates are slightly different for the "minor" crossings and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which have different toll rates).

The Lincoln/Holland/George Washington Bridge have multiple rates: If you are traveling during peak hours, the EZPass toll = cash rate ($8). If you are going through at non-peak hours, it's $6. If you go anytime with 3 or more people and go to a staffed toll booth and have it recorded as a carpool trip, it's $2. All of the Port Authority crossings are setup this way. The carpool trip is only available if you pre-register (free) and have an EZPass issued by a New York-based agency in the New York City Metro area, or a New Jersey issued EZPass.

* New York-based agency in the New York City Metro area = tags with sticker saying it was issued by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Bridge Authority

If you're a peak-hour only commuter, and there's traffic going into the city via the PANYNJ crossings from New Jersey, there is no savings by using EZPass (just the convenience of not having to take out cash).

Regarding the problem of people who have no EZ Pass clogging up the lanes, isn't there another solution?

Anyone have details about the toll roads near DFW? I heard that they don't use a tag. Instead they photograph license plates and bill everyone.

I have a few friends who do not have E-Zpass, including the $1 monthly charge and being too lazy to get a transponder. The best one was a friend who claimed the government could track your movements too easily, to which I suggested his tinfoil hat was on too tight.

The cost differential (and time was too much), though I used to use a commuter lane on the GW and we had to go through the cash lane.

Personally, I think they should have the transponder and camera setup used on electronic toll roads. The problem would be enforcing the rules across the various states, but frankly you could save a lot of money by reducing the number of toll collectors.

The EZ-Pass discount on bridges/tunnels applies at all hours of the day. I just checked my statement, and the Midtown/Lincoln/Holland tunnels are all $4.57 no matter the time of day. I know the cash toll during rush hour is $8, but I don't know what the off-peak cash toll is. Basically, with EZ-Pass there is a fixed, lower price for all tolls irrespective of peak/off-peak hours.


No that is not true. Really, do you think I just make stuff up when I post it without checking the facts first?" Did you even bother to look or did you just check your statement for whatever bridge you went over?

The real facts, from the EZ pass websites:

Note the sections highlighted in RED

MTA Bridges and Tunnels/New York State Thruway/Port Authority of NY&NJ/New York State Bridge Authority Basic Plan: No minimum use is required. At all Port Authority facilities, E-ZPass discounts are available during off-peak ($2.00 discount) hours. At MTA Bridges and Tunnels, $.93 off cash tolls. $1.86 off round-trip at the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and $1.04 discount at the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial and Cross Bay Veterans Memorial Bridges. At all New York State Thruway facilities, E-ZPass discounts are available. This plan may be used wherever you see the E-ZPass sign displayed. Plan Code: (STANDARD)

Discounts are only available at some stations during Off Peak hours. The statement Basically, with EZ-Pass there is a fixed, lower price for all tolls irrespective of peak/off-peak hours is simply not true.

Lets look at another state, say Delaware:

All non-commercial Delaware E-ZPass customers are automatically enrolled in the Delaware SR-1 Frequent User Plan. This plan requires 30 or more qualifying trips by 2-axle passenger vehicles within a 30-day rolling period on Delaware State Route 1. All the trips must be made with the same transponder. The discount (50% off the cash rates) is applied 5 days after the end of the 30-day period. This may provide a greater discount if you travel State Route 1 (SR1) frequently.


Hmmm, in Delaware, you need to go through the tolls 30 times in a 30 day period to get a discount.

In New Jersey, from stories several years ago:

the Turnpike is dropping its rush hour and weekend discounts for EZ Pass as of January 1. It will generate an extra $17 million in toll revenue. This was approved a year ago but most commuters seem unaware of it- and the Turnpike Authority has spent no time publicizing it, either. (The Parkway used to have a discount but they dropped it in 2002.)

If THE OP has an eazy pass he/she should use the EP lane.

If he/she does not have an EP account why not? and he/she then deserves to wait in traffic.

ralph

At some of the bridges and other tolls in the New York Area, the line of people paying cash goes back far enough from the toll plaza to totally block access to the ez pass lanes from the highway. So while you can use the ez pass lanes you can not get to them without a significant delay, often 30 to 45 minutes (or in this case over an hour) at times. It can be much worse in the overnight hours than dealing with it at rush hour.

There are some facilities that handle it much better than others do, but at the ones that can not handle it, the cash paying people can hold up everybody when they drop down to only one or two cash lanes, usually late at night.

It really stinks after waiting for 30 minutes moving ten feet every few seconds, you get there and the two lines break off to the right to the cash lanes, and there are 10 open Ez pass lanes with nobody in them because you can't get past the backup for cash.

People who live/drive NY/NJ with no EZ-pass do so for a variety of reasons : they may not be credit worthy, they may have alot of parking tickets, they may owe child support, they may not have car insurance, they may have expired registration, or they simply may just be " creeping around " and don't want others to know their movements and whereabouts. I shake my head in disbelief when I still see the long long lines in the cash lanes at area bridges and tunnels.

No that is not true. Really, do you think I just make stuff up when I post it without checking the facts first?" Did you even bother to look or did you just check your statement for whatever bridge you went over?

The real facts, from the EZ pass websites:

Note the sections highlighted in RED.)
I have no idea why you seem to be taking this personally. But thanks for your very pedantic retort, nonetheless.

Do you have any idea what the "off-peak" hours are? I cannot find them listed anywhere. But when I pull my EZ-Pass statement, here are some times I transited the QMT, for example:

0055, 0259, 0355, 0534, 0618, 0931, 1010, 1152, 1247, 1327, 1637, 1740, 1911, 2007, 2232

Each time I was charged $4.57. I believe that if there is a "peak" period, I certainly would have hit it at least once. I could list a bunch of other examples using the Throg's Neck, Triboro, & Henry Hudson.

The statement Basically, with EZ-Pass there is a fixed, lower price for all tolls irrespective of peak/off-peak hours is simply not true.

If you paid attention to the context, that sentence is based on a review of my EZ-Pass statement. Unfortunately, I used the word "basically" when I meant, and should have used, "generally." My bad. <unnecessary personal comment redacted by moderator>

And using Delaware as an example is rather irrelevant to the discussion of the EZ-Pass in NYC, in the NYC forum.

Do you have any idea what the "off-peak" hours are? I cannot find them listed anywhere. But when I pull my EZ-Pass statement, here are some times I transited the QMT, for example:

0055, 0259, 0355, 0534, 0618, 0931, 1010, 1152, 1247, 1327, 1637, 1740, 1911, 2007, 2232

Each time I was charged $4.57. I believe that if there is a "peak" period, I certainly would have hit it at least once. I could list a bunch of other examples using the Throg's Neck, Triboro, & Henry Hudson.

The Throgs-Neck, Triboro Bridge (RFK Bridge) and Henry Hudson Bridge are MTA Bridges & Tunnels, which offer fixed prices for EZPass users at all times.

The Port Authority Crossings do not. Their toll schedule (and the hours for peak/off-peak) are at: http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html

Your previous statement was that the Queens-Midtown Tunnel, Holland and Lincoln Tunnels were all charged at $4.57 which could not be true. It IS true if we were speaking only about the Queens-Midtown tunnel. The Holland and Lincoln have different rate schedules.

Actually I do know when the peak hours are. And as others have posted, there are times when you do not get a discount, so it's not just me. Even though you for some reason choose to quote me and then pretty much say I was totally wrong in saying there is not always a discount to use an EZ pass.

Apparently, you still don't believe what the EZ pass websites and others have posted in there are times there are not discounts using the EZ pass.

I have complete confidence in the fact that there are crossings and tolls that are not discounted. Others have given specific examples, as I have that there are in fact times that EZ pass is not discounted.

You can choose to believe it or not, but please don't quote me and then say I'm wrong and expect me to just ignore it.

Believe what you want. But there are tolls that are not discounted at certain times of the day, or certain days of the week, or unless you go through them 30 times in a month, despite the one toll you apparently go through.

Toll info for reference:

MTA Bridges and Tunnels no peak/non peak rates; ezpass discount.
http://www.mta.info/bandt/traffic/btmain.html


All rates apply to the Lincoln & Holland tunnels, the George Washington, Bayonne & Goethals bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing.
. . .
PEAK HOURS
Weekdays: 6-9 a.m., 4-7 p.m., Sat. & Sun.: 12 Noon-8 p.m.

OFF-PEAK HOURS
All Other Times, including the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
[rates follow - peak ezpass rate is same as cash rate]


http://www.panynj.gov/bridges-tunnels/tolls.html

The Queens-Midtown Tunnel is fixed at $4.57, regardless of time of day, as long as your EZPass is issued by a New York-based agency in the New York City Metropolitan Area. All the MTA Bridges and Tunnels are set up in that way. (The rates are slightly different for the "minor" crossings and the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which have different toll rates).

The Lincoln/Holland/George Washington Bridge have multiple rates: If you are traveling during peak hours, the EZPass toll = cash rate ($8). If you are going through at non-peak hours, it's $6. If you go anytime with 3 or more people and go to a staffed toll booth and have it recorded as a carpool trip, it's $2. All of the Port Authority crossings are setup this way. The carpool trip is only available if you pre-register (free) and have an EZPass issued by a New York-based agency in the New York City Metro area, or a New Jersey issued EZPass.

* New York-based agency in the New York City Metro area = tags with sticker saying it was issued by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York State Thruway Authority and New York State Bridge Authority

If you're a peak-hour only commuter, and there's traffic going into the city via the PANYNJ crossings from New Jersey, there is no savings by using EZPass (just the convenience of not having to take out cash).


Wow didn't know that about the carpooling. I can't find where to regester for the carpooling rate on the ezpass page..do you have a link I can follow. Thanks! ^

If you have a New York-based agency tag, log into http://www.ezpassny.com, on the left, click on "Plans".

Then, under "Account-Specific Plan Name" select PACP and add it to your account.

If you have New Jersey, it should be similar; if you can't find it, call them and ask them to add the Port Authority Carpool Plan to your account (should also be PACP).

If you have a New York-based agency tag, log into http://www.ezpassny.com, on the left, click on "Plans".

Then, under "Account-Specific Plan Name" select PACP and add it to your account.

Thanks, I had no idea this existed. Now I just have to hope that the next time I cross the Hudson with the family the cash lane isn't too clogged to justify the $4-6 discount.

Given that EZ Pass is accepted in 14 states across the Northeast, the south down to Virginia and west to Illinois, it seems that not having EZ Pass means one will be waiting on line at toll booths indefinitely. Here's a map of the states that accept EZ Pass: http://www.e-zpassiag.com/IAG%20Map%202010-01-11.pdf

On the subject of specific discounts, many of the issuing states give a discount for green cars too (and in New York it's even a green pass). Green meaning getting 45 mpg or more, not a forest green paint job. If you have one of the qualifying cars, you should switch your pass to a green one, but make sure you don't use it in another car by mistake.

For New York it's a 10% discount (each state may be different, I'm not sure) the list of qualifying cars is (apparently it has not been updated for the 2011 model years yet):

* Toyota Prius Hybrid, model year 2004 - 2010
* Honda Civic Hybrid, model year 2006 - 2010
* Honda FCX Clarity, model year 2008 - 2010
* Tesla Roadster, model year 2008 - 2010
* Mini Cooper Mini E, model year 2008
* Honda Insight Hybrid (automatic transmission only), model year 2005 - 2006 **
* Honda Insight Hybrid, model year 2000 - 2004
* Toyota RAV4 EV, model year 2000 - 2003
* Chevrolet S10 Electric, model year 1997 – 1998

*(No other alternate fuel or hybrid vehicles are eligible for the program at this time)
**Note: 2007-2009 Honda Insights do not meet the eligibility criteria because they are not compliant with the SULEV emission requirements.

For New York it's a 10% discount (each state may be different, I'm not sure)

I think the 10% off is only valid at NYS Thruway facilities. There's also a PANYNJ green discount that makes the Hudson crossings $4 at off-peak hours that you have to register for separately I think.

I have had a Delaware E-Zpass since 2004. Had a PANYNJ E-ZPass before that, from 1997 but dropped it for Delaware once the $1 a month fee started. No monthly fees and you don't have to live in Delaware to get one.

Another benefit of the Delaware E-ZPass for infrequent users like me is that you don't have to sign up for automatic replenishment---you can make a one-time credit card payment online so E-Zpass doesn't hold your money.

I usually only top up $10 at a time unless I'm driving up north from Richmond and need to go through more than $10 worth of tolls.

EZ Pass is the best invention ever.

After spending an hour in inbound Lincoln Tunnel traffic at 2 a.m., all due to no one having an EZ-Pass, I am baffled. Since there are plenty of NY/NJers who frequent this forum, perhaps you can shed some light on this. Even if you don't have reason to frequent Manhattan, NJ residents have the GSP and Turnpike to contend with. Why on earth would anyone with a car in this area NOT have an EZ-Pass!?!?!:mad::confused::mad::confused:

Yesterday there was a big jam at the BBT because of people going to the Cash lanes.

I got behind a silver Jaguar with New York plates in the EZ Pass lane and, you guessed it, no EZ Pass. Then, of course, the driver and two pax had to scramble to come up with the toll in cash thus holding up me and everyone behind me.

To paraphrase an old David Letterman routine:

"The EZ Pass lane is not a difficult concept to grasp. Either you have one or you don't.

Don't get into the EZ Pass lane on a hunch!"

Morons like this, if they were not previously registered for the EZ Pass (in that case, I'd give them a break), should pay at least double the cash-only toll.

I got behind a silver Jaguar with New York plates in the EZ Pass lane and, you guessed it, no EZ Pass. Then, of course, the driver and two pax had to scramble to come up with the toll in cash thus holding up me and everyone behind me.If there is a car in front of me when I approach an EZ Pass lane, I try to hang back far enough so that if I see the gate is not going up, I can maneuver to a different lane.

I generally am an opponent of the death penalty. I make an exception for driving in the EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass.

If there is a car in front of me when I approach an EZ Pass lane, I try to hang back far enough so that if I see the gate is not going up, I can maneuver to a different lane.

Agreed, but very difficult at the BBT where the plastic lane dividers are at least 100 feet from the gate on the Brooklyn side.

I generally am an opponent of the death penalty. I make an exception for driving in the EZ Pass lane without an EZ Pass.

^:D

Gitmo would be enough for me. You want them to learn their lesson.

Gitmo would be enough for me. You want them to learn their lesson.Interestingly, most of the exceptions to my opposition to the death penalty involve driving infractions, including (1) turning on one's left blinker to pull over to the right or to take a right (or vice versa), (2) driving in the left lane when others are trying to pass (irrespective of one's speed -- tri-state drivers are particularly bad at this concept), and (3) driving in NYC with New Jersey plates (a substantial majority of the time they are guaranteed to do something to piss me off, and are substantially more likely to (a) be in an EZ Pass lange without an EZ Pass, (b) put on the wrong blinker when pulling over or turning and (c) drive in the left lane when others are trying to pass).

Interestingly, most of the exceptions to my opposition to the death penalty involve driving infractions, including (1) turning on one's left blinker to pull over to the right or to take a right (or vice versa), (2) driving in the left lane when others are trying to pass (irrespective of one's speed -- tri-state drivers are particularly bad at this concept), and (3) driving in NYC with New Jersey plates (a substantial majority of the time they are guaranteed to do something to piss me off, and are substantially more likely to (a) be in an EZ Pass lange without an EZ Pass, (b) put on the wrong blinker when pulling over or turning and (c) drive in the left lane when others are trying to pass).

Okay, you've convinced me to change my mind.

Actually, I have long been an advocate of a special TLC Court to be established in Times Square complete with guillotine. (The French still have one left from the Revolution. They keep it in a museum. At least we'll get some use out of it.)

From there, it's a simple matter of setting up the High Commission on Motor Vehicle Atrocities.

Wikipedia is correct. If you get an EZPass with the label with MTA Bridges & Tunnels or New York State Thruway, it's fee-free. PANYNJ are charged $1. MTA B&T used to charge a $1 fee, but the NY state legislature (if I recall correctly) told them to stop (through legislation).


Since I had looked it up for myself, might as well share what I found (NY State Law link (http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/LAWSSEAF.cgi?QUERYTYPE=LAWS+&QUERYDATA=$$PBA2855$$@TXPBA02855+&LIST=SEA1+&BROWSER=BROWSER+&TOKEN=47034715+&TARGET=VIEW)):

Laws of New York, Public Authorities Law
Article 9 - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Title 3-A - BUSINESS PRACTICES OF PUBLIC AUTHORITIES

Section 2855 - Electronic method of payment; periodic charges.

§ 2855. Electronic method of payment; periodic charges. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law to the contrary, if any authority shall offer any electronic method of payment for tolls, fares, fees, rentals, or other charges, including but not limited to a system called E-ZPass, such authority shall not impose any periodic administrative or other charge for the privilege of using such electronic method of payment for such charges. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit any authority from making any charge for extra services requested by a holder of such electronic method of payment, any charge for lost or damaged equipment, or for defaults, such as charges for dishonored checks. The authority shall not enter any agreement with bondholders that would require the imposition of administrative or other periodic charges relating to electronic methods of payment prohibited by this section.



You can definitely get a non-PANYNJ tag, although I'm not sure of the exact process (it might be as simple as writing a note in the paper application).

For those of you in NY state or the NYC area, you can also pick up the E-ZPass at retail locations:

https://www.e-zpassny.com/en/onthego/locations.shtml

CashZone (https://www.e-zpassny.com/en/onthego/location_cashzone.shtml) in particular has numerous locations in Manhattan. I picked one up last week, and it was the MTA B&T E-ZPass which should have no recurring fees.

There are toll booths around Chicago that have the same system. I found the online payment method worked great.

Most of the exits/entrances to the tollways in the Chicago suburbs are not staffed and accept coins only (no change made) tossed into the basket. We're a little more lenient than the Aussies...you get 7 days to pay the unpaid toll online. On the flip side, the max allowed unpaid tolls is 4. Then there is a fine added.


Anyone have details about the toll roads near DFW? I heard that they don't use a tag. Instead they photograph license plates and bill everyone.

The North Texas Tollway Authority has two options: TollTags (similar to EZ-Pass and I-Pass) and cashless tolling. Cashless tolling is where license plates are photographed and an invoice is sent to the registered owner of the vehicle. Cashless tolling rates are 50% higher than those deducted from TollTag accounts.

Most everyone uses TollTags. In August I rented a car with the toll pass option, which ended up being the cashless tolling. I still haven't been billed after the fact for the actual tolls. I can't imagine National doesn't pass that back onto the customers (even though I paid $2/day for the service).

Just a quick note that if there are users in the Illinois area that have an iPass, it will work in NJ/NY on the EasyPass system.

At the end of the month, the MTA board will meet once again for fare increases, this time for the bridges. The proposal is this:

Under the plan, an E-ZPass driver who pays $4.57 to use the Midtown Tunnel today would pay the same $4.57 after the increase goes into effect. Cash payers who fork over $5.50 today would see their toll jump to $7.00. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge cash toll would leap from $11.00 to $14.00. E-ZPass users would pay exactly what they pay today: $9.14.

If that gets passed (it may not, it has opposition on the board) that should help some people make the change over to EZ Pass. Vote is Oct 27

Wikipedia's list of fees by agency (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-ZPass#Account_fees_by_agency) still shows MTA (and NYS Thruway) not having a fee

No fees in New York.

You can replenish your EZPass Account (at least, in the NY CSC) via check or money order by mail or in person.

They bill my credit card monthly based on my usage. I remember the days when paying a toll didn't generate airline miles or hotel points. ;)

If there is a car in front of me when I approach an EZ Pass lane, I try to hang back far enough so that if I see the gate is not going up, I can maneuver to a different lane.



I wondered who that was. :D

As far as I'm concerned, the people that don't have EZ pass are too cheap to load some $$$ on their account.

dh

Just a quick note that if there are users in the Illinois area that have an iPass, it will work in NJ/NY on the EasyPass system.

I-Pass works on every toll road that is part of the EZ-Pass system, and EZ-Pass transponders will work on the Illinois toll roads.

http://www.ezpass.com/static/info/facilities.shtml

At the end of the month, the MTA board will meet once again for fare increases, this time for the bridges. The proposal is this:

Under the plan, an E-ZPass driver who pays $4.57 to use the Midtown Tunnel today would pay the same $4.57 after the increase goes into effect. Cash payers who fork over $5.50 today would see their toll jump to $7.00. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge cash toll would leap from $11.00 to $14.00. E-ZPass users would pay exactly what they pay today: $9.14.

If that gets passed (it may not, it has opposition on the board) that should help some people make the change over to EZ Pass. Vote is Oct 27

Now that is good news!

I don't understand why the MTA keeps punching subway/bus riders in the crotch when they could balance their budget on the backs of cash toll-paying nonresidents.

At the end of the month, the MTA board will meet once again for fare increases, this time for the bridges. The proposal is this:

Under the plan, an E-ZPass driver who pays $4.57 to use the Midtown Tunnel today would pay the same $4.57 after the increase goes into effect. Cash payers who fork over $5.50 today would see their toll jump to $7.00. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge cash toll would leap from $11.00 to $14.00. E-ZPass users would pay exactly what they pay today: $9.14.

If that gets passed (it may not, it has opposition on the board) that should help some people make the change over to EZ Pass. Vote is Oct 27

Wow..I have EZPASS but those jump in tolls is CRAZY! I go to Brooklyn oftent and I cut through Staten Island to get there. For what is a 25 mile journey would cost a non ezpass holder $22! Almost a dollar a mile between that and the Bayone/Outerbridge! :mad:

On a similar note I watch a tv story about the George Washington Bridge a while back that I will try and quote..Upon completion in 1932 the bridge set up a toll which was used to recoup the expenses of building the bridges and for maintanence. Once they recouped and built up the fund the toll was supposed to be eliminated..That day came and went in 1936! :rolleyes:

There are two proposals on the table, one is an overall hike, the other is just the cash tolls. Well not really just the cash ones, they are pretty sneaky here.

Come out and say the only way you can do this is to raise tolls (the sky is falling....).

Go for the people who don't have EZ pass, who are already pretty much hated by everybody else. Instead of raising it a smaller amount for everybody, hit those who pay cash big time. Indeed, they say it came out from the public hearings, the concept to raise just the cash rate.

It's also important to note that in the materials, though not widely reported by the media, they make a distinction between New York EZ Pass accounts serviced by the NY Service Center, and all other EZ Pass Accounts.

So holders of other EZ Pass Accounts other than the New York Service Center ones, may pay the increase. As one report puts it:

The cash-only hike (COH) sees major crossing cash/non-NY E-ZPass toll rates rise from $5.50 to $7.00 or 27% while the NY E-ZPass stays at $4.57 producing a major differential between NY E-ZPass and the cash toll rate - going from a discount of 93c or 17% to one of $2.43 or 35% on the cash toll. The one-way Verrazano toll would go from $11 to $14.

It then goes on to define what a NY E-Z Pass is as only those serviced by the New York Service Center.

There are several options.


Some people (most certainly not all) will continue to pay cash and pay the increase
Some people will find alternative routes when possible without tolls or take alternative transportation
Some people will get an EZ Pass


So a year or whatever from now, the MTA comes back and says "We had this great plan to raise a bazillion dollars, but when we hiked the fares and we didn't get the revenue we wanted. Too many people got an EZ Pass, and look, all the people with out of area passes got one for New York too. We are losing money, so we need to raise the tolls across the board, sorry."

There are two proposals on the table, one is an overall hike, the other is just the cash tolls.

Let me add my proposal. Any motorist who drives up to the EZ Pass barrier without an EZ Pass and who also is not the holder of an EZ Pass (e.g. car in the shop, took loaner car) pays a toll of $20. Each way.

My kid moved to NJ a year ago and I know she does not have the EZ-Pass. I will be visiting soon and will be using her car to make some shopping trips for her and her brother who lives in Manhattan. Which agency should I purchase the EZ-Pass from without fees and perhaps taking advantage of the carpool discount. Car will mainly use Holland/Lincoln tunnels. Thanks.

My kid moved to NJ a year ago and I know she does not have the EZ-Pass. I will be visiting soon and will be using her car to make some shopping trips for her and her brother who lives in Manhattan. Which agency should I purchase the EZ-Pass from without fees and perhaps taking advantage of the carpool discount. Car will mainly use Holland/Lincoln tunnels. Thanks.

Get it either from the NYS Thruway Authority or Triborough/MTA Bridge Authority and link a credit card and you should be good to go. Stay away from the NJ Turnpike and PANYNJ, which charge a $1/month service fee. You can sign up for the carpool plan with any of them.

It's not clear to me how you can assure that you'll get the MTA or Thruway tag and not the PANYNJ tag, though, since the MTA and Thruway applications now include references to the $1/mo PANYNJ fee even though I'm pretty sure they don't charge it.

It's not clear to me how you can assure that you'll get the MTA or Thruway tag and not the PANYNJ tag, though, since the MTA and Thruway applications now include references to the $1/mo PANYNJ fee even though I'm pretty sure they don't charge it.

I don't get this.....besides getting the EZ-Pass, I have to get individual tags?

I don't get this.....besides getting the EZ-Pass, I have to get individual tags?

The EZPass *is* a tag. Have you checked out the EZpass website (http://www.ezpassny.com)? To avoid fees, you want to make sure you get a tag that is issued by MTA Bridges & Tunnels or New York State Thruway authority. You can call them to get clarity as to how to ensure you get one of these two tags.

The website also has all of the commuter/discount codes, including the one for carpool (click on EZPass info in the top header).

I don't get this.....besides getting the EZ-Pass, I have to get individual tags?EZ Pass calls it a transponder. It's also known as a tag.

The EZPass *is* a tag. Have you checked out the EZpass website (http://www.ezpassny.com)? To avoid fees, you want to make sure you get a tag that is issued by MTA Bridges & Tunnels or New York State Thruway authority. You can call them to get clarity as to how to ensure you get one of these two tags.

Yep. Sorry for the confusion. When you sign up for EZ Pass, you sign up through one of the many authorities that are part of the program, and that authority issues you a transponder or "tag" (a plastic brick about the size of a deck of cards) that you stick to your car's windshield. Depending on which authority you order the tag from, the deposits and fees can vary. But a tag issued by any EZ Pass authority will work anywhere EZ Pass is accepted (you only need one tag), and you should be able to sign up for the carpool discount program through any of the NY/NJ area authorities.

It gets more confusing because some of the authorities that issue EZ Passes share resources. MTA, NYS Thruway and PANYNJ, for example, all go through the EZ Pass NY Service Center, yet PANYNJ charges that pesky $1/month fee if they ultimately issue your tag, and the other two authorities don't. So you want to make sure that when you order your tag, you don't get one issued by PANYNJ.

So a year or whatever from now, the MTA comes back and says "We had this great plan to raise a bazillion dollars, but when we hiked the fares and we didn't get the revenue we wanted. Too many people got an EZ Pass, and look, all the people with out of area passes got one for New York too. We are losing money, so we need to raise the tolls across the board, sorry."

Even if the toll hike causes a certain number of people to shift to EZ-Pass, there will still be a net revenue increase from the rermainder who do not have EZ-Pass (most tourists/transiters will never have EZ-Pass), and the reduction in labor cost from operating the cash booths (given the ridiculous union-inflated labor costs in NY, this is non-trivial). When the time comes to reevaluate the budget, we can argue that issue and the factors bearing on it then.

Oh I'm sure they will save some money, but it won't be as big of a gain as they were expecting, so they will have to go back to the well sooner, like they always do.



It looks like ez-pass people may be in for an increase at the vote next week, from the Daily News this week


While details of the toll hikes haven't been finalized, sources said E-ZPass users were looking at an increase of just 5%, half of what was originally proposed.

But drivers who pay tolls with cash would see a sharp 18% hike under the plan, the sources said.



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/22/2010-10-22_passin_on_toll_hike_to_cashonly_motorists.html? r=news#ixzz1360VpZkv