1. When are the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes open?
2. Who will pay a toll?
3. What if I'm in a carpool?
4. How will tolls be collected in the 95 Express system?
5. Are tolls the same at the same time everyday?
6. What is a "Smart Tag/EZPass"?
7. How does the Smart Tag collection system work?
8. What is a "transponder" and how does it work?
9. Can I use my 95 Express HOT Lanes Smart Tag transponder on other toll roads?
10. Do I have to merge into a separate lane to pay my toll?
11. Are trucks allowed on the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes?
12. How is the toll revenue spent?
13. Will tolls continue to be collected once the improvements are paid for?
14. I currently use HOV to get to work. How will the HOT lanes affect my commute?
15. How will 95 Express affect the environment?

1. When are the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes open?

All the time - 7 days a week. 365 days a year.

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2. Who will pay a toll?

Any vehicle that has fewer than 3 passengers will be required to pay a toll to use the 95 Express system.

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3. What if I'm in a carpool?

Carpools with 3 or more passengers use the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes for free.

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4. How will tolls be collected in the 95 Express system?

95 Express will collect tolls from those vehicles not meeting the passenger level requirement of 3 passengers per vehicle. In order to maintain ease of movement in the lanes, toll collection will be done electronically through Smart-Tag/EZPass transponders via an Open Road Technology (ORT) system.

Under the 95 Express system, the number of areas where tolls are collected will be limited to four collection points on northbound lanes and six points southbound. This will greatly improve enforcement by limiting the number of areas the police will have to patrol compared to the current system of patrolling the entire corridor.

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5. Are tolls the same at the same time everyday?

The 95 Express system has a variable price schedule with different rates for peak, off-peak, and shoulder (between peak/off-peak) times of day. However, if the HOV/HOT lanes become crowded, rates will be increased in order to maintain the HOV level of service.

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6. What is a "Smart Tag/EZPass"?

Smart Tag/EZ Pass is the name of the electronic toll collection system that will enable you to drive on the 95 Express HOT Lanes without having to stop at toll booths. The Smart Tag/EZ Pass system is made up of an electronic transponder that is mounted on the inside of your vehicle's windshield, toll recording equipment located on the road, and an enforcement system. For more information on Smart Tag/EZ Pass see http://www.smart-tag.com/ezpass/faqs.htm

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7. How does the Smart Tag collection system work?

An electronic sign located before the entrance to the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes gives drivers advance notice of the current toll as they approach the lanes. Overhead antennas read the transponder and deduct the toll electronically from your pre-paid Smart Tag/EZ Pass account.

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8. What is a "transponder" and how does it work?

The Smart Tag/EZ Pass transponder is a small battery-powered radio device, which is mounted inside the vehicle on the windshield and identifies the customer's prepaid toll account. When traveling through the toll zone, the transponder is read by an overhead antenna, and the posted toll amount is automatically deducted from the customer's account. Just make sure it's properly mounted on the inside windshield of the vehicle you're traveling in.

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9. Can I use my 95 Express HOT Lanes Smart Tag transponder on other toll roads?

Yes. You can use your Smart Tag/EZ Pass transponder anywhere you see the Smart Tag/EZ Pass name or symbol, generally up and down the east coast of I-95.

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10. Do I have to merge into a separate lane to pay my toll?

As you exit the lanes onto a 2-lane off-ramp, you will have to choose either the HOV exit lane or Toll exit lane to be properly recognized by the toll collection system. If you have 3 or more people and use the HOV lane there will be no charge for the trip. Vehicles with fewer than 3 people use the Toll lane and are charged according to the distance and rate traveled.

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11. Are trucks allowed on the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes?

Only light trucks and sport-utility vehicles are allowed on the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes. Commercial trucks are not allowed on the 95 Express HOV/HOT Lanes.

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12. How is the toll revenue spent?

Tolls collected from 95 Express will pay the costs to operate the system and will be used to expand the existing HOV-3 system. The tolls paid by LOV drivers will provide additional road capacity to be used by all groups of travelers and pay for new rail cars for the Virginia Railway Express and park and ride lot expansion along the corridor. The use of real time variable toll pricing insures that the transit and carpools will always observe free flowing lanes.

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13. Will tolls continue to be collected once the improvements are paid for?

On the 95 Express system, the toll itself, along with the variable toll rates, serves to control congestion. Therefore, the toll is part of the control mechanism and will not be removed. Without the ability to control the flow of traffic through toll levels imposed on SOV or non-HOV-3 drivers, we would not be able to insure a free flowing lane for transit and carpools.

The continued tolls will also provide a revenue stream for continued maintenance and repairs to the pavement, ensuring that the road stays in good condition and construction interruption is minimal.

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14. I currently use HOV to get to work. How will the addition of HOT lanes affect my commute?

The 95 Express tolling structure is designed to ensure no degradation in the driving experience for existing HOV users. The value of paying a toll only exists if the facility maintains free flowing traffic. Additionally, if the proportion of low occupancy vehicles (LOV) gets too heavy, no more LOV motorists will be allowed on the 95 Express lanes until congestion levels off.

The HOT lanes are a better option for redistributing road capacity than converting the HOV lanes to general-purpose lanes, particularly when HOV lanes either have capacity added or have alternating periods of light and heavy usage.

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15. How will 95 Express affect the environment?

A benefit of HOV/HOT lanes are the environmental advantages derived from new or expanded opportunities to encourage carpooling and improved transit services, therefore moving more people with fewer vehicles at faster speeds. One of the expected benefits of HOV/HOT lanes is a reduction in car emissions because emissions are reduced when average speeds increase and when stop and go traffic patterns are reduced.

Additionally, the 95 Express system will add additional capacity to the Virginia Railway Express and the park and ride lots. This will encourage the use of mass transit and car pooling options, thus reducing the amount of cars on the roadways.

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