Dec 1, 2008 12:54 am US/Eastern
I-95 Tolls Go Into Effect Friday
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Brighter orange delineator poles were placed to separate the express lanes on I-95, but some drivers are still taking on some dangerous driving. Here a gray Range Rover can be seen cutting in front of another Range Rover, barely missing the delineators.
CBS
Friday could prove whether the new I-95 Express lanes are a success or a failure. In five days, the new tolls go into effect.
Florida's Department of Transportation calls the concept "congestion pricing." It's a SunPass-only paid toll determined by the flow of traffic. If things are moving along freely, the toll will be just 25 cents. If it's a parking lot on 95, drivers who take the express lanes will have to shell out $6.20 in tolls. A sum that shocks most drivers.
"No way. Six? That much, that's insane; that's unbelievable," said driver Edwin Ortiz.
"Wow, this is no good for me no good," agreed cab driver Andre Trendade
"Oh my goodness. I don't think that's fair because we can't control the rate of traffic," said driver Johnnie Walker.
New tolls could fuel new confusion. When FDOT introduced the new express lanes in July, it was a mess. Drivers weaved in and out of the plastic dividers, many causing accidents along the route. Since then, the state has installed more plastic dividers to prevent drivers from weaving and a lot more signs to direct them.
Yet some drivers are still concerned that Friday's introduction of tolls could send everything back into a tailspin.
"They might not know at the time that the tolls are in effect and then panic and then try to come out of the lane," said driver Tom Dell. "They put the stoppers a little closer together now to try to keep people from coming in and out which was something they corrected so hopefully it'll flow."
The express lanes are free to registered hybrid cars and registered car pools with three or more people inside.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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