I-295 Express Lanes: Get Ready To Open Your Pocketbooks

[thelakelander]

They'll lose money, which they already acknowledge. However, they'll lose less than the traditional alternative of building roads and not collecting tolls.

[southsider1015]

How do the automatic toll devices tell when people drive over the solid white lanes, to move in and out of the toll lanes?

The entire managed lane corridor will have ITS CCTV cameras watching for this. Cameras watch for vehicles crossing over the candlesticks, and take pictures of license plates of the violators.   Police will be able to sit on the inside shoulders and watch for violators.   

I don't know how well these efforts work, but this is what's being broadcasted to designers.  I don't know what the stats for tolling accuracy are on the current tolling methods using the toll plazas.

Charles, a lot of the industry doesn't like the cost of the concrete barrier walls, or the inability for fire trucks/EMS vehicles to access the managed lanes.  Fire suppression systems have been provided on I-595, with FDC connection points on adjacent frontage roads for fire trucks to pump water thru the suppression systems.  Haven't heard if they've been needed yet, but one day, they might just.

The candle sticks should work pretty well, in my opinion.  Breakaway safe, could be run over by EMS trucks if needed, and it won't be worth the physical damage to cars if violators try to switch lanes to avoid tolls.

[southsider1015]

Also, for those looking for information...

http://floridaexpresslanes.com/

There's a new Express Lanes Handbook, and some other helpful resources.  I'd suggest that some of you read up on this stuff before blasting them.  At least you'll sound more informed.

[thelakelander]

^Thanks. I never realized drivers run over the candle sticks on a regular basis until seeing them in action the last few days.

[southsider1015]

^Thanks. I never realized drivers run over the candle sticks on a regular basis until seeing them in action the last few days.

Last I heard, FTE was working on a specification for a high performance delineator that would be more appropriate for the high speeds of the Express Lanes. 

[tufsu1]

^Thanks. I never realized drivers run over the candle sticks on a regular basis until seeing them in action the last few days.

they actually doubled the number of delineators on I-95 in Miami, because the problem was so rampant when the lanes first opened.

[The_Choose_1]

Also, for those looking for information...

http://floridaexpresslanes.com/

There's a new Express Lanes Handbook, and some other helpful resources.  I'd suggest that some of you read up on this stuff before blasting them.  At least you'll sound more informed.

Thank you for this link. I had no idea that the state is in the planning stages to put in express lanes from Glen St Mary Fl on interstate 10 all the way down to I95 at World Golf Village. The roads around here are going to be in a mess for some time. I knew about the express lanes for I295 but not those others.

[thelakelander]

^We'll be getting managed lanes in just about every urban location where a limited access facility needs additional capacity. The days of widening our interstates without a few lanes that produce additional revenue are probably over.

[David]

Regarding the I-95 express lanes:

I see on the website it says the construction year for this project is 2028, and the opening year is 2031. Is this correct?

That's waaaaaaaaay down the road.

[southsider1015]

Regarding the I-95 express lanes:

I see on the website it says the construction year for this project is 2028, and the opening year is 2031. Is this correct?

That's waaaaaaaaay down the road.

Long term studies, nothing more.

FDOT's 5-Year Work Program is a better idea of where dollars are going.  Although we've seen that projects can added or put on hold pretty easily.

If its not on the 5 Year Work Program, its not funded.

[Kerry]

They can build all the capacity they want, but it will just get used up by someone until gridlock returns; then what?  To quote the WOPR computer, "The only way to win is not to play."

[David]

Long term studies, nothing more.

FDOT's 5-Year Work Program is a better idea of where dollars are going.  Although we've seen that projects can added or put on hold pretty easily.

If its not on the 5 Year Work Program, its not funded.

Thanks, that's good to know!

[David]

And the main  reason I was inquiring is because of my 21.5 mile commute up 295 to 95 from Mandarin to downtown. Google traffic maps has been saving me some headache lately by allowing me to see the traffic backed up on 95 daily. 2 or 3 days a week during rush hour, it's just red all the way from the Avenues to downtown, typically a wreck backing everything up.

I take San Jose and cross the Buckman and go up 17 as alternatives.  Was curious just how far away those express lanes were.  Commute times are 30 mins on a good day, 50 minutes to an hour on a bad day. They could probably sucker me into paying for the express lanes (well, the far in the future ones on 95 at least) I know the ones on 295 supposedly aren't  accessible for Mandarin residents.

Or just...move heh.

[fsquid]

I use the Waze app.

[southsider1015]

And the main  reason I was inquiring is because of my 21.5 mile commute up 295 to 95 from Mandarin to downtown. Google traffic maps has been saving me some headache lately by allowing me to see the traffic backed up on 95 daily. 2 or 3 days a week during rush hour, it's just red all the way from the Avenues to downtown, typically a wreck backing everything up.

I take San Jose and cross the Buckman and go up 17 as alternatives.  Was curious just how far away those express lanes were.  Commute times are 30 mins on a good day, 50 minutes to an hour on a bad day. They could probably sucker me into paying for the express lanes (well, the far in the future ones on 95 at least) I know the ones on 295 supposedly aren't  accessible for Mandarin residents.

Or just...move heh.

Even though the Express Lanes wont be accessible to you, your commute should get better on I-295 when they open since there will be more total lanes and some of the Orange Park traffic will be using the Express Lanes.  As more drivers become accustomed to the Express Lanes, less traffic will be in your lanes, easing your commute.

The other option, of course, is to leave earlier or later and avoid the rush hours, if your schedule or job allows it.