What are Express Lanes?
Express lanes are an innovative concept to manage traffic congestion and ultimately provide choices for motorists. These new roadways will provide more capacity in areas where traffic congestion is a major problem. This concept is typically known as an "expressway-within-an-expressway" where the express lanes are separated from the general use lanes.
FDOT is proposing to construct express lanes in each direction on interstates and future projects providing restricted access points. Before entering the express lanes, signs will be posted notifying motorists of the toll pricing at that time. The price of the toll will vary, based on the level of congestion in the express lanes to ensure the express lanes provide reliable travel times. Therefore, the toll will be higher during peak times when demand is greater.
Before all express lane entrances, there will be electronic message signs showing the current toll price so you can choose to use the express lanes or travel the general use lanes.
Tolls will be collected using a fully automated system called SunPass. Traffic will be able to move at full speed through a tolled area and automatically deduct the tolls using a transponder that has been attached to the front windshield of someone's car. Funds must be added to the transponder account using cash, check, money order or credit card. There will be no toll booths.
All existing lanes will remain free. Tolls will only be applied to vehicles that use the express lanes.
FDOT is advancing their plan to build the first express lanes in Northeast Florida and implement them in 2017.
