EZpass Startup?

[jimbob1603]

What a mess! This whole project makes NH look like it was the first state to ever install this system. There are other states I would expect to 'make a mountain out of a mole hill', but not NH. Whats going on here?

How could this whole project result in an expendature?

Isn't one of the many benefits of this system to grossly reduce the number of toll-collectors on the payroll? I'm sure the unions are not happy with the new technology, but life progresses. Just how many (or how few) permanent/full-time & part-time jobs were eliminated by this system?

Is EZPass charging too much to install & maintain the operation in NH? What are other states paying to have their systems managed?

What was the idea behind the original concept of the state subsidizing the cost of the transponders to the masses? I'd love to chat with the state's marketing firm behind this idea! Supply & demand rules still apply in 2005!

Why have the remainder of the toll roads in NH not activated their EZPass lanes? The toll's EZPass, for quite some time, appear to be ready for use. If the EZPass company can't handle the user load, maybe NH should consider an alternative vendor.

Who in the State is in control of this project? Listening to the radio & TV news reports about the EZPass system, I get the impression that every elected political figurehead in Concord wants to take credit for this project. I don't know why; the whole things looks like an embarassment. I won't be at all surprised if some House sub-committee decides to investigate the mess.

Lets get this puppy running!

[SIKSUKR]

Saw this today on WMUR.http://www.thewmurchannel.com/news/4838900/detail.html

[Orion]

Since it has been implemented on 93, I have had the opportunity to use it serveral times in each direction. It's not working as smoothly as it could. Perhaps drivers are still confused and maybe the signs are not large enough or clear enough.

Non-EZ-Pass drivers are still driving right up to the toll and changing lanes at the last minute. This effectively clogs the access to the EZ pass lane and creates dangerous lane changes as well.

People still stop in the EZ pass lane to wait for a green light. ???

Too bad they didn't implement the systems I've seen in TX where you don't even slow down and the transponders work at 65 mph in any lane.

The most recent state to implement and yet appears to be poorly done in spite of available lessons-learned from other states. At least we got it, so I'm only mildly complaining.

[islandAl]

They should have two dedicated lanes and at least one should be on the far left to avoid the confusion and the late lane changes. The other between the exact change and the operator assisted lanes.
High speed lanes would be nice but I doubt if we will see them any time soon.

[BroadHopper]

http://www.citizen.com/apps/pbcs.dll...074/-1/CITIZEN

Here is the link to an audit of the system. If I remember correctly then Gov. Benson couldn't understand why it cost about 1.3 million dollars a year to run EZ-Pass when the current system only cost $375,000 a year. As a financial analyst, I agree. When you don't need the tokens which cost manpower to implement and reducing the number of people to collect the coins and get them ready for the bank(s) as well as less toll takers, automation should be cheaper, not more expensive. Maybe that is why the discount is 30% rather than 50%. I did a little study on the EZ-Pass company that handles the account, they are pretty fat cats living pretty high on other people's money. I'd say, screw the company and let the state run the system.

[Mee-n-Mac]

Originally Posted by Orion

Since it has been implemented on 93, I have had the opportunity to use it serveral times in each direction. It's not working as smoothly as it could. Perhaps drivers are still confused and maybe the signs are not large enough or clear enough.

Non-EZ-Pass drivers are still driving right up to the toll and changing lanes at the last minute. This effectively clogs the access to the EZ pass lane and creates dangerous lane changes as well.
People still stop in the EZ pass lane to wait for a green light. ???
{snip}

We see this all the time. Certainly part of it is the confusing signage. They must have asked the military on what to put on the signs. You know instead of "Don't step here" you get "Step, no" Part of it stems from the changable center lanes. (VarneyPoint way above is correct) You have to have varying electronic signs to indicate which lanes are open and handle EZ Pass/exact change/anything. Given the lane(s) aren't "full speed", they should have made a dedicated EZ Pass lane on the far right and segregated the traffic sooner. At least put dotted lines and writing on the road, "EZ Pass only !" a ways before the toll booth. I think this would be clearer than the present signage.

ps - $5/account/month in these computerized days ?!? Hmmm ... isn't this the same NJ company that their attorney general investigated and sent management to the crossbar hotel ?

[Lin]

Coming back from NH last Sunday the first tolls were tied up some while the non-transponders found their way to other lanes. My husband has said they need two dedicated lanes with a major size sign on the top of the plaza so you can read it coming down the road. I don't think it's the people with the transponders that are messing up traffic as much as others that don't know the dedicated lane. They just see that greenlight and head right for it, then they're too close and too jammed up to get out of the way. It does help though now that they have those little purple ezpass signs up top of the booths.

[gtxrider]

We have had EZPASS here for several years and people are still confused as to which lane is EZPASS. There is no consistency on the Garden State Parkway as to which lane is EZPASS. Why not make the LEFT LANE EZPASS since those are supposed to be the fastest. This would at least limit those who don't have EZPASS to only having to move to the lane on their right.

You can have all the signs in the world but there are some that do not see past their radiator cap when the drive.

Welcome to progress.

[ghfromaltonbay]

I know someone here in NJ who informed me that she can't read signs and drive at the same time. YIKES!!

Not only is it confusing when the EZ Pass lanes aren't consistent, but with so many SUV's and trucks on the road it's often impossible to see far enough ahead to the tollbooths and their respective colors, lights, signage when you drive a sedan. You have to wait till the large vehicles in front of you move aside to see what lane has what features. I just heard on TV that 55% of the vehicles on the road are SUV's -- that makes us sedan drivers a minority.

I like the practice they have started on the Garden State Parkway of painting the booth numbers or EZ PASS ONLY LANE right on the pavement about 1/4 mile before the toll plaza. This helps us sedan drivers especially where the geniuses put the toll plaza on a curve in the road instead of a straightaway.

[Orion]

Originally Posted by ghfromaltonbay

.....I just heard on TV that 55% of the vehicles on the road are SUV's -- that makes us sedan drivers a minority.

With gas going over $3/gal soon, things are likely to change.

[jkjoshuatree]

I here ya on that one!!!

[jimbob1603]

Has anyone heard any results of the NH House investigation of the transportation department's toll system?

I'm sure most folks have calmed down regarding this mess; now that summer is over & the situation is somewhat stabilized. But, many questions regarding the marketing, implementation & administration of this system remain to be answered.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by jimbob1603

"...What was the idea behind the original concept of the state subsidizing the cost of the transponders to the masses? I'd love to chat with the state's marketing firm behind this idea! Supply & demand rules still apply in 2005!

Weren't these bought a long time ago by the state? I read elsewhere that it was a battery-life question.

Originally Posted by jimbob1603

Isn't one of the many benefits of this system to grossly reduce the number of toll-collectors on the payroll? I'm sure the unions are not happy with the new technology, but life progresses. Just how many (or how few) permanent/full-time & part-time jobs were eliminated by this system?

Most states' employees are "Civil-Service Employees", which means...the State would have to pay them to work a different job with the State. (Say, issuing swim raft decals ).