Here’s your chance to give VDOT an earful over the proposed $1 E-ZPass fee
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) sent an email to current E-ZPass customers yesterday outlining a proposed monthly fee of $1 to help fund operational costs–including retail programs in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. VDOT is soliciting comments from the public about the proposed monthly fee through Tuesday, June 12th. If you’ve got some opinions […]
The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) sent an email to current E-ZPass customers yesterday outlining a proposed monthly fee of $1 to help fund operational costs–including retail programs in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads.
VDOT is soliciting comments from the public about the proposed monthly fee through Tuesday, June 12th. If you’ve got some opinions (maybe strong ones) about this be sure and send an email to vdotinfo@vdot.virginia.gov.
Below is the email sent to current customers:
— ∮∮∮ —
Dear E-ZPass Customer,
With Virginia’s E-ZPass program doubling over the next several years as new toll roads open, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) is proposing a monthly fee of about $1 per transponder to pay for administrative and operations costs.
VDOT has the utmost understanding that E-ZPass operations brings convenience and efficiency to toll operations. E-ZPass allows for electronic toll collection at Virginia toll facilities and lessens the need for manual collection. However, there is a cost to providing the service to the participating toll facilities, most of which are not operated by VDOT. The Virginia E-ZPass program is being expanded to support several new toll facilities scheduled or expected to be opened over the next few years. The cost associated with the enhanced distribution and specialized services for the new facilities and additional transponders requires a new business model.
The proposed monthly fee would cover costs for:
- Buying nearly one-half million transponders
- Implementing a retail program where transponders can be obtained at various stores in Northern Virginia and eventually Hampton Roads
- Providing service at select DMV locations
- Upgrading information technology to accommodate the expanded program
- Account management and processing of toll transactions (managing billing of all transactions)
- Customer service and the operations of three customer service centers
The fee would also help control costs and manage the selection and demand for E-ZPass transponders. The fee would be regularly evaluated to ensure that the charge is generating just enough revenue to maintain and operate the program without generating excess revenues above expenses.
VDOT is accepting comments on the proposed monthly fee through Tuesday, 5 p.m., June 12, 2012. All comments will be reviewed and taken into consideration prior to the final decision on the proposed fee structure.
You can go to www.virginiadot.org/e-zpass for information on the proposed monthly fee increase and provide their comments online. You can submit your comments directly to vdotinfo@vdot.virginia.gov or mail them to:
Office Communications – Third Floor/Annex Bldg.
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
VDOT expects to have a final decision in June.
Thank you for being a valued E-ZPass customer.
Sincerely,
E-ZPass Virginia
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Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
If they hadn’t initially marketed the SmartTag as a cost-saving, efficiency-increasing product (complete with a 10% discount on tolls to prove it, which they stopped a few years later) I’d be less inclined to call BS on this.
Be aware: they sent me a message saying that they were publicly posting all of the emails they get.
I sent them an email. They sent me a standard mumbo jumbo reply that they send to everyone. I replied back to that email saying this form letter is BS. I got the same form letter in reply. They couldn’t care less what we think. They couldn’t care less about any new ideas. In short they couldn’t care less. It’s like good fellas “F%$k you pay me”…
This is complete nonsense. Their stated reasons for adding the fee does not make sense. By utilizing the pass system they are able to collect more money and pay less to do so. (Less labor, less physical money handling) They also are (theoretically) generating money in the form of earned interest on all that cash people leave sitting in their accounts.
More importantly the concept of some of these tolls is beyond me. I thought the purpose of the tolls were to pay for the road that one was driving on. Since these tolls have been in place for years one would assume that this has been accomplished. It suggest that this money is going to some other use, probably maintaining or building roads state wide. (The only improvements to the toll roads themselves have been improved toll collecting capabilities.) This means if you live on the south side of Richmond you are required to pay for roads all over the Commonwealth or take a ridiculously long way around. I have done some searching and not been able to find where the money goes or how it is used. I have not been able to find out how much revenue is generated from the interest earned on our money either. Hmmmm…..
@A.P.D.: If you take the time to research about the toll roads around Virginia, you’ll generally find that the toll revenues pay for construction and ongoing maintenance of the toll roads themselves. Here in Richmond, the Downtown Expressway and Powhite Parkway (out to Chippenham) is owned by the RMA. If you read their financial statements you’ll see they are still paying off bonds used for construction or reconstruction of the roadway. In particular, you’ll notice the high cost incurred to widen the Powhite Bridge over the river in 1988. There is also the ongoing maintenance costs to consider plus the recent toll plaza reconstruction. If you research about Powhite Parkway Extension (west of Chippenham, owned by VDOT) you’ll find that the toll revenues on that roadway do not even cover the cost to pay back the bonds, meaning that general transportation revenues from VDOT are covering the remaining cost of the construction bonds and maintenance expenses. So, no, as a southsider you are not paying for roads all over the commonwealth through your toll payments. In fact, taxpayers all over the commonwealth may be paying for the toll road you use if you drive the Powhite Parkway Extension.
Well done, Fred.
They have to find a way to cover the cost of providing so much new service in N. Va and HR. Either they could spend out of the transportation fund, or they could charge EZ Pass users. Which would you say is more fair?
Perhaps in one sense, you are now paying the cost of the time you save with your EZ Pass. You could go back to cash if you want to save $12 a year.
Zeke, you’re missing the point that they already hold a deposit from every single EZPass user. Why don’t they invest that money wisely and use the dividends to fund projects? Asking people who are already out a deposit to now pay even more to use this thing is ludicrous. If they’re tight on money, raise all the tolls. Or figure out another solution. But raising the fee on users who already pay up front for all their tolls AND are out a deposit? Well, that just shows that clearly EZPass is mismanaged in Virginia.
I was just pointing out what I understand to be the reason for the proposed fee. The other poster didn’t seem to understand why they would need more money. New infrastructure will take more money, and they’re asking EZ Pass users to bear the cost. Is that the fairest way to do it? Maybe not. I am not disagreeing with you about possible poor management of funds, unfairness between EZ Pass/cash users, etc.
http://www.virginiadot.org/VDOT/Newsroom/asset_upload_file896_57491.pdf
“The EZ Pass program in Virginia will double over the next several years.” This means the administrative costs are going to rise – and they are asking us for $1 a month to cover that. Our end of the deal is that EZ Pass, as a system, won’t go to the toilet once overloaded by new Nova/Norfolk drivers.
Also,
“The current $25 deposit would no longer be required once the monthly fee is implemented.”
Anyway, are you suggesting VDOT run a big stock portfolio with my deposit?
If they don’t get the money one way, they’ll get it another. On one hand, I think it’s a shame to charge customers who are making it easier on them. But, on the other hand, the E-Z Pass is so convenient and safer (ever try twisting your body in the driver’s seat, reaching into your pocket, and trying to count change by touch, while staying in your own lane?), that all in all, it’s worth the extra charge.