Comments on: Tolls Go Cashless http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/ Just another WordPress weblog Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:30:07 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: k http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8121 k Mon, 13 Jul 2009 02:58:18 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8121 As previously mentioned, open road tolls in Illinois are half the cost of cash tolls. Fortunately, people are finally beginning to get the "cactus" signs displayed in advance of the toll plazas. These signs look like a saguaro cactus with one bent arm - the straight arm is for transponder tolls, and the bent arm directs drivers to the cash lanes. Tolls on E-470 in Denver have always been high (OK, not as high as in Japan). When I lived in Thornton CO (northern suburb) and worked in Centennial CO (south of the DTC, near Park Meadows Mall), the one way cash toll between I-25 and 120th Ave was at lesst $10, if not more. The high tolls back then (late 90's-early 2000's) encouraged light use and allowed higher speed. I suspect increased tolls are likely due to low volume and installation of the open road tolling equipment. As previously mentioned, open road tolls in Illinois are half the cost of cash tolls.

Fortunately, people are finally beginning to get the “cactus” signs displayed in advance of the toll plazas. These signs look like a saguaro cactus with one bent arm - the straight arm is for transponder tolls, and the bent arm directs drivers to the cash lanes.

Tolls on E-470 in Denver have always been high (OK, not as high as in Japan).

When I lived in Thornton CO (northern suburb) and worked in Centennial CO (south of the DTC, near Park Meadows Mall), the one way cash toll between I-25 and 120th Ave was at lesst $10, if not more. The high tolls back then (late 90’s-early 2000’s) encouraged light use and allowed higher speed. I suspect increased tolls are likely due to low volume and installation of the open road tolling equipment.

]]> By: David Levinson http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8067 David Levinson Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:04:29 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8067 The word is "salience" according to Amy Finkelstein's paper. Tolls you do not see are not salient (from the etymology, salient is derived from a root "sel" meaning leap out at you) in making your decision. WSJ is quite behind NYT on this story though. See http://blog.lib.umn.edu/levin031/transportationist/2007/07/electronic_toll_collection_and.html for reference to an article from 2007 citing Amy's research. The word is “salience” according to Amy Finkelstein’s paper. Tolls you do not see are not salient (from the etymology, salient is derived from a root “sel” meaning leap out at you) in making your decision. WSJ is quite behind NYT on this story though. See
http://blog.lib.umn.edu/levin031/transportationist/2007/07/electronic_toll_collection_and.html for reference to an article from 2007 citing Amy’s research.

]]> By: Peter http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8061 Peter Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:39:49 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8061 higher tolls on cashless facilities could simoply be an example of the effect of transaction costs (the lower the "cost" of the transaction to the user the more they will be preapred to pay for the product). higher tolls on cashless facilities could simoply be an example of the effect of transaction costs (the lower the “cost” of the transaction to the user the more they will be preapred to pay for the product).

]]> By: Ty http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8059 Ty Mon, 06 Jul 2009 03:11:33 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8059 More about Highway 407 here (ps it's not in Toronto, it doesn't even go through the city, it's north). http://www.educationforthedrivingmasses.com/2009/03/education-for-driving-masses-tip-124.html More about Highway 407 here (ps it’s not in Toronto, it doesn’t even go through the city, it’s north).

http://www.educationforthedrivingmasses.com/2009/03/education-for-driving-masses-tip-124.html

]]> By: aaron http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8049 aaron Sat, 04 Jul 2009 19:58:42 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8049 A requirement to prominently display the rate before approaching the entry to the toll route should be more than enough. My guess is they cost more simply because they are faster. With manual tolls, a cost is generally incurred that is in par or even excess of the actual toll while waiting in queue. A requirement to prominently display the rate before approaching the entry to the toll route should be more than enough.

My guess is they cost more simply because they are faster. With manual tolls, a cost is generally incurred that is in par or even excess of the actual toll while waiting in queue.

]]> By: Rob http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8032 Rob Fri, 03 Jul 2009 19:58:18 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8032 Take a look at the 407 Toll road in Toronto. Entirely electronic, and I am pretty sure that it has to be one of the most expensive toll roads in north america. Standard rate is $0.1985 CAD cents per km. So $0.2786 USD per mile + a minimum $0.25 trip fee IF you have a transponder. Which is $21.55 per year. Without a transponder you will be billed $0.2789 USD per mile + $2.85 "video toll charge" + $0.25 minimum trip fee. + $2.50 monthly account fee. It is a profit making machine.... The worst part? The Ontario provincial government which SOLD this highway to a private company and gave them a 99 year lease on the property for a flat fee. It currently generates revenue of about 480-500 million per year. Take a look at the 407 Toll road in Toronto.

Entirely electronic, and I am pretty sure that it has to be one of the most expensive toll roads in north america.

Standard rate is $0.1985 CAD cents per km.

So $0.2786 USD per mile + a minimum $0.25 trip fee

IF you have a transponder. Which is $21.55 per year.

Without a transponder you will be billed

$0.2789 USD per mile
+
$2.85 “video toll charge”
+
$0.25 minimum trip fee.
+
$2.50 monthly account fee.

It is a profit making machine…. The worst part?

The Ontario provincial government which SOLD this highway to a private company and gave them a 99 year lease on the property for a flat fee.

It currently generates revenue of about 480-500 million per year.

]]> By: Michael http://www.howwedrive.com/2009/07/03/tolls-go-cashless/#comment-8029 Michael Fri, 03 Jul 2009 17:16:40 +0000 http://www.howwedrive.com/?p=1012#comment-8029 Chicago some years ago doubled the cash price but kept the same toll for people who got the transponders. They continue to let you pay cash. On a trip through Ontario, though, a few years back, they have no option to pay cash and people without the local toll transponder are billed by mail via license plate lookup, with fees for that 'service' greater than the actual toll itself. Chicago some years ago doubled the cash price but kept the same toll for people who got the transponders. They continue to let you pay cash. On a trip through Ontario, though, a few years back, they have no option to pay cash and people without the local toll transponder are billed by mail via license plate lookup, with fees for that ’service’ greater than the actual toll itself.

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