mowermech wrote: Are there any toll roads in the Western States? I haven't seen any.
Only ones I know about cause I lived there.
So. Cal Toll Roads
91 Fwy (Corona--Anaheim) thru Santa Anna Canyon
241 Fwy (off 91) to Rancho Santa Margarita (Mission Viejo/Laguna Beach)
261 Fwy (off 241) to Irvine
73 Fwy (Newport Bch/Costa Mesa/Irvine) to Laguna Nigel
mowermech wrote: Are there any toll roads in the Western States? I haven't seen any.
Oklahoma, and Kansas have toll roads built before the Interstate system and incorporated into the routing and signage.
Others are not part of the Interstate system, but meet a local or regional need, particularly in Texas. Less crowded routes from Houston suburbs to the outer belt (also a toll road), bypasses around Austin, roads from downtown Dallas to northern suburbs and suburban belt routes, a shortcut through OKC and a southern loop around Tulsa. Some of the urban Interstate routes have toll lanes, but you are not usually allowed on them with a large vehicle.
In general, 2900 miles of the 47,000 in the Interstate system include toll highways, tunnels and bridges. Most are in the East, most now work with the regional EZ-Pass pre-pay system. I'm not sure how you would get an EZ-Pass if not in one of the states that issue it; pick a state and send them some money?
Toll roads in other parts of the country may be part of a different state or regional pre-pay system, but it is not really practical to join them all. It doesn't even make sense for me to join Oklahoma's PikePass system, keep money on deposit with them, to save a few cents the half dozen times a year I might be on one of the turnpikes.
Just carry some cash. Some systems even have credit card readers. Some states will catch your plate number and send the vehicle owner a bill, but don't count on that because in others running through without paying is a violation with a big fine.
FWIW, all of the toll roads in Oklahoma and Texas are avoidable. But it will cost you some time, e.g. the Turner Turnpike cuts Tulsa-OKC time by 2/3, compared to old Route 66, following its urban routings.
Shearwater wrote: We ran into toll roads on the Houston outerbelt interstate route. I can't think of any others.
Clarification:
The Houston inner loop is I-610 and has no toll.
The outer loop is Beltway 8 and is a toll road. However, Beltway 8 is not part of the interstate highway system.
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The I- pass or E- pass are great in saving time, but when you get back home, you realize how much that trip really cost you. I try to avoid these toll roads, but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and use them.
Florida now gets their tolls with a camera and mailing a bill for non E-Z pass holders. Just went thru several two weeks ago but won't be home till mid-May to get mail. I hope penalties aren't too stiff.
Doug and Cassi Glass wrote: Florida now gets their tolls with a camera and mailing a bill for non E-Z pass holders. Just went thru several two weeks ago but won't be home till mid-May to get mail. I hope penalties aren't too stiff.
Just to be clear, Florida uses the SunPass system, but there is a move underway to have interoperability with the E-ZPass system technology currently in use in 14 other states. Florida is also looking into issuing the eZ-GO Anywhere tags that North Carolina is currently issuing. According to E-ZPass, work is well underway on the FL and NC integrations, and Georgia may be included as well.
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