MassDOT also announces “grace period” for drivers without transponders
Region – Starting tonight, Friday, Oct. 28, at 8 p.m., Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) contractors will start mobilizing equipment to prepare for the activation of All Electronic Tolling (AET) along the Massachusetts Turnpike (I-90). At 9:45 p.m. cash tolling will be suspended, with AET officially “go-live” at 10 p.m., with gantries then being activated.
Immediately after the “go live” command, crews stationed at every toll plaza location along I-90 will then begin setting up the new traffic patterns by installing jersey barriers and orange construction barrels, pavement markings, and electronic message boards to divert vehicles from the center areas of toll plazas and prepare for the initial stage of toll plaza demolition. MassDOT will deploy 64 “arrow boards” along I-90, and approximately 24 lift trucks state-wide in the evening of Oct. 28. The lift trucks will assist employees in covering existing “Cash” and “E-ZPass” signs at plaza booths and will also be unveiling new gantry rate signs. An estimated 107 law enforcement details and more than 100 workers, including laborers, foremen, and supervisors will be utilized at “go-live” time.
During the day on Saturday, October 29, and on Sunday, October 30, contractors will continue setting up logistics at 23 work zones along I-90 and late Sunday will begin demolishing the center areas of existing toll plazas. Phase one of plaza demolition will remove utilities from the plaza areas, fill in any underground tunnels, remove booths in the center areas of the plazas, and remove cement slabs at plazas as traffic is detoured to the right and to the left of the center toll plaza areas.
Due to the end of manual toll collection and the transition to the EZDriveMA program and website, online tolling transactions will be unavailable from Friday night through 7 a.m., on Tuesday, Nov. To allow the public to still obtain a transponder, MassDOT has expanded hours at customer service centers.
In addition, a “grace period” policy is in effect which allows drivers without transponders the opportunity to obtain a transponder and receive the discount they would have had if the vehicle was equipped with a transponder as of Oct. 28 at 10 p.m.
The grace period will ensure that vehicle owners who intend to get a transponder are not penalized for not having an active transponder when All Electronic Tolling goes live tonight at 10 p.m.
The grace period will function as follows:
- If any driver without a transponder passes underneath an All Electronic Tolling gantry, the vehicle owner will receive a Pay By Plate invoice in the mail.
- The vehicle owner can choose to pay the Pay By Plate invoice, or, choose to apply to receive a free transponder and will receive a credit for the difference between the Pay By Plate rate and the E-ZPassMA rate. After paying their Pay By Plate bill in full, customers will be credited the difference on their new E-ZPassMA account.
- Customers will be able to take advantage of this program online, or by calling or visiting a customer service center.
- After receiving that Pay By Plate invoice, if a customer logs on to MassDOT’s new website (EZDriveMA.com), the customer may convert their Pay by Plate account to an E-ZPass MA account by using the “convert” feature. This feature requires customers to pay their invoice in full and open a transponder account.
- For the first 6 months, this program will be offered on any current Pay By Plate bill a customer receives, and then after 6 months, on just the first Pay By Plate bill a new customer receives.
- During the first 6 months, in the event a customer ignores their first invoice, MassDOT will still honor the grace period and E-ZPassMA rate, but customers will still need to honor the late fines associated with the bill. MassDOT strongly discourages travelers from ignoring their Pay By Plate notices and encourages drivers to pay these invoices or contact the customer service center as soon as possible.
Drivers are encouraged to plan ahead and allow extra time for travel. Members of the public with concerns or questions can email [email protected]. For more information about gantry rates and for other details about the implementation of the EZDriveMA program, visit: www.massdot.state.ma.us/allelectronictolling
In addition, MassDOT recommends these ideas to help commuter make decisions as the project goes forth:
- Travelers, before getting on the highway, may utilize the MassDOT Real-Time Traffic (“Go-Time”) informational displays which are set up along I-90 for east and westbound travel between Sturbridge and Boston by visiting this link: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TrafficInformationMap.aspx
- The public may dial 511 and select a route to hear real-time conditions on I-90 and other roads.
- Visit mass511.com, a website which provides real-time traffic and incident advisory information, and allows users to subscribe to text and email alerts for traffic conditions.
- Access MassDOT traffic cameras, including 10 new cameras on I-90 added this week: http://www.massdot.state.ma.us/highway/TrafficTravelResources/TrafficInformationMap.aspx
- Download Waze, the real-time traffic navigation app that provides motorists with real-time traffic conditions across Massachusetts.
- Download the Ridewise app. Customers may use Ridewise to obtain travel times for various routes including portions of I-90. The app is available on Android and iPhone. Drivers are advised not to use the app if they are operating a motor vehicle.
MassDOT suggests drivers may find these websites helpful:
- Travelers should visit http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/ for the MBTA’s full commuter rail schedule and maps. They should note that the MBTA’s commuter rail line between Boston and Worcester stops at destinations in many of the communities along I-90.
- Access a map of the MBTA’s subway lines by visiting http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/subway/
- Visit http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/bus/ for the MBTA’s full bus schedule list and maps.
- See https://www.amtrak.com/lake-shore-limited-train for information on Amtrak’s Lake Shore Limited route, which services Boston, Framingham, Worcester, Springfield and Pittsfield.
- Visit http://www.massridematch.org/ for further options on public, private, and non-profit transportation options.
Travelers should also visit the following websites of Regional Transit Authorities for information on public transportation in communities that are located near I-90:
- Berkshire Regional Transit Authority: http://www.berkshirerta.com
- Pioneer Valley Transit Authority: http://www.pvta.com
- Worcester Regional Transit Authority: http://www.therta.com
- MetroWest Regional Transit Authority: http://www.mwrta.com