I don't have to deal with tolls here in Utah, but I do find myself still paying them as I often rent cars out of Philadelphia, Newark, etc. depending on where and when I get off and on my ship. For that reason I continue to maintain my EZ-Pass account. I keep my EZ-Pass tag in my carry-on. It's a huge convenience when having to drive on those god awful toll roads, especially the Turnpike up and around Newark and, god forbid, NYC.

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Originally posted by 1967Goat:

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Originally posted by BamaJeepster:

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Originally posted by rtquig:
Typical E-Zpass for my 5 vehicles is $220 per month. They charge my credit card twice a month for $120. When I first got it, they would take $50 out at a time.

Wow. $2640 per year PLUS no telling how much in gasoline tax. You should be able to glide to work on gold plated roads for that!

My thought as well. Put that money into an IRA instead.

On my side of the state you either pay the toll of take a state highway that have many traffic lights and slower speeds that take three times as long to get to your destination. When I tow my travel trailer across the Tappan Zee Bridge in NY, the toll is almost $30.

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Originally posted by rtquig:
On my side of the state you either pay the toll of take a state highway that have many traffic lights and slower speeds that take three times as long to get to your destination. When I tow my travel trailer across the Tappan Zee Bridge in NY, the toll is almost $30.

Didn't I read that they were getting rid of the Tappan Zee Bridge?

flashguy

IN N DFW my wife and i were paying over $400 a month just to drive 30 miles a day (each) to work.

The toll pass makes it easy not to think about the money you spend.

Screw that especially since 121 is not nearly as fast to take as it was 10 years ago, unless you drive before 0700.

We now take side roads most days.

Nice thing is OK finally accepts the Texas toll pass

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Originally posted by flashguy:

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Originally posted by rtquig:
On my side of the state you either pay the toll of take a state highway that have many traffic lights and slower speeds that take three times as long to get to your destination. When I tow my travel trailer across the Tappan Zee Bridge in NY, the toll is almost $30.

Didn't I read that they were getting rid of the Tappan Zee Bridge?

flashguy

They built a new one. It is the only way to cross the Hudson River in that area. The new bridge is nice. Two years ago while coming home from New Hampshire with our trailer we crossed the bridge while the new bridge was being built (took a few years to build it) The day after we crossed, one of the craines toppled over onto the old bridge.

If I went to Pittsburgh and took 376 off of I-80, I paid. It used to be cheaper and has gone up every year. I don't go to Pittsburgh much anymore.
Used to drive the Ohio Turnpike a lot going up to Detroit. Got off on the 280 exit and hit the outside of Toledo before getting on I-75 to Michigan. That went up every year also.
Haven't been on a toll road for quite a while now.

Last week when getting on the Garden State Parkway, there is a .50 toll. The guy in front of me is on a blacked out motorcycle. The speed through the EZ-Pass is normally 15 mph, only people who seldom go through the toll do this speed, everyone else is going 35-40 mph. So going 40, I notice the guy on the motorcycle reach around his back with his left hand like there was a problem. Nope, he was covering his license plate so the toll both couldn't get a picture of it.

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Originally posted by rtquig:

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Originally posted by flashguy:

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Originally posted by rtquig:
On my side of the state you either pay the toll of take a state highway that have many traffic lights and slower speeds that take three times as long to get to your destination. When I tow my travel trailer across the Tappan Zee Bridge in NY, the toll is almost $30.

Didn't I read that they were getting rid of the Tappan Zee Bridge?

flashguy

They built a new one...

Is that the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge? I wonder who picked that name...

Yeah, here in South Florida we have an express lane that the price varies with congestion. I've seen it anywhere from $0.50 to $14, and it's like 30 miles long.

I believe the Sunpass devices have allowed cities/states to rape people with changing tolls and people don't get as pissed as if they had to stop at an actual toll booth and pay for it, right there. But the turnpike from South Florida to Orlando area is over $20 one way.

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Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Yeah, here in South Florida we have an express lane that the price varies with congestion. I've seen it anywhere from $0.50 to $14, and it's like 30 miles long.

I believe the Sunpass devices have allowed cities/states to rape people with changing tolls and people don't get as pissed as if they had to stop at an actual toll booth and pay for it, right there. But the turnpike from South Florida to Orlando area is over $20 one way.

We have the same here in North Texas and it really pisses me off. Congested... need to get somewhere... pay through the ass. I guess that's capitalism and the market should dictate how this works. But right now, people in this area seem to be flush with cash and don't seem to give a crap. I've never seen so many high end cars on the road and the houses people are buying is insane.