I'm on the Beltway a lot at off-hours for most folks. Rarely any traffic in the main lanes yet I always see people in the express lanes. Why would anyone pay to use the things when there's no advantage?

They're simpletons. 25 and 30 cent tolls ahead mean there's no congestion. Not tough to figure out. I see their payments as extra money for DOT projects. Let's spread the word that you should always take the HOT lanes.

No toll when EzPass Flex thingy is in HOV mode so they aren't all paying. Mine is always set to "HOV ON" no matter how many are in the car. Also, to avoid the monthly fee on the Flex, it has to be used in HOV mode exclusively for that month. If it doesn't get used that month, I'm assuming there will be a monthly fee on the transponder. So far, no monthly fee doing what I have been doing. So at least once a month, I'll take the lanes in HOV mode--no monthly fee and never paid a toll. When on other toll roads/tunnels, I have a Massachusetts EzPass to avoid the monthly fee using the Va. EzPass Flex for tolls. Massachusetts EzPass is totally fee free--initial or monthly. Pretty stupid, huh?

oijddThanks for posting, I was really wondering this my self. I also am on 495 during clear hours a lot and see szon the express lanes. I always make sure to get ahead of them so I can kinda LOL to myself tsdxzhat I didnt have to pay and I am ahea of thdm !df

Because: 1. I got EZ Pass 2. I can use the express land 3. I make more money than the OP 3. Avoid the Rif Raf drivers like the OP, loving it while it last. I'm going to enjoy the hell out of the express lane while a few of us now use it, Now. I'll be looking for your company soon Rif Raf, like the saying goes There goes the neighborhood.

The answer is easy. There is no way to see or know what the traffic is before committing to the toll lanes. It's bit of Australian genius, mate.

@OP - also cause of the diff ramps. For some change, you can drive right into the mall without having the Tyson Blvd light hassles in the EZpass lanes. And you can also get to that back area of Tysons (near Ginnett - that area) a lot more easy as well cause they have more access points than the normal beltway so yeah, it's sooooooo worth the change if you are heading there
on the same tip, I used to wonder why would ppl pay the Spring Hill Rd toll when you can just go around for free on 123 when they first built the toll road. Nowadays, I will routinely GLADLY pay the 75 cents to avoid all that bullshit LoLz

Because the toll lanes are free,
When you set to HOV!

I live in Alexandria. I work in Reston at odd hours. I never know what the situation is with respect to accidents, delays, etc. Since these are my 2 points of travel, I can use the entire length of the Express Lanes in both directions and not have to deal with people entering and exiting as frequently as I would in the poor people's lanes. I've been using the lanes twice daily with just myself in the car and the switch in the HOV position since they opened. No tickets, no tolls, no problems.

State police have monitors that know when the HOV setting is used from your EZPass' broadcast signal. They will look inside your car to see how many passengers you have and pull you over.

Many drivers who have been caught in a multi-hour Beltway delay due to an accident plus congestion will gladly pay for an option to have a trip at high speed and almost always without delay.

This is like an "insurance" choice. On any given day the Beltway traffic will be smooth for a couple of days, and then horrendous for a couple of days. You never know when. You don't have to worry about that with the Express lanes. Some days you pay for it and you don't need it. Other days you are glad you paid for it, and you would have paid anything for it.

Bottom line -- you have a simple choice. If there is anything that you don't like about the new HOV lanes -- then just don't take them. Let the rest of us use and enjoy (and pay for) this great driving option.

Da Commuter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> State police have monitors that know when the HOV
> setting is used from your EZPass' broadcast
> signal. They will look inside your car to see how
> many passengers you have and pull you over.
>
> Many drivers who have been caught in a multi-hour
> Beltway delay due to an accident plus congestion
> will gladly pay for an option to have a trip at
> high speed and almost always without delay.
>
> This is like an "insurance" choice. On any given
> day the Beltway traffic will be smooth for a
> couple of days, and then horrendous for a couple
> of days. You never know when. You don't have to
> worry about that with the Express lanes. Some
> days you pay for it and you don't need it. Other
> days you are glad you paid for it, and you would
> have paid anything for it.
>
> Bottom line -- you have a simple choice. If there
> is anything that you don't like about the new HOV
> lanes -- then just don't take them. Let the rest
> of us use and enjoy (and pay for) this great
> driving option.


Yes, enforcement is theoretically there, but there is no practical way to enforce the HOV bluff and everybody knows it. They are supposedly working on an IR scanner to do the job, but it is not ready yet. Good luck to the cop "looking in your car" at night with tinted windows among one of many cars some HOV some not. No need to do it when traffic is flowing, but when traffic backs up, the more cars go Express and the more enforcement becomes next to impossible. Keep paying the Australians, though. They will gladly take your money.

Just got this e-mail:

Good afternoon:
Your two toll-free weeks of travel on the 495 Express Lanes begin tomorrow. You can travel toll-free on the Express Lanes from January 7 to January 20, 2013. All you need to do is plan your trip and enjoy two toll-free weeks on us. As a reminder, please make sure you travel with your E-ZPass properly mounted in your car during your toll-free weeks. If you have an E-ZPass Flex, please keep it in toll mode. We’ll be sure not to charge you. Only put your E-ZPass Flex in HOV mode if you have three or more people in your car. Before your trip, please continue to prepare to use the Express Lanes and learn how to safely use the lanes. We'll see you on the 495 Express Lanes.
Safe travels,
495 Express Lanes Team

Why? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'm on the Beltway a lot at off-hours for most
> folks. Rarely any traffic in the main lanes yet I
> always see people in the express lanes. Why would
> anyone pay to use the things when there's no
> advantage?

It's possible they know of issues further down the road, or got in at a place where there was congestion. Or they just don't want to take the chance.

Beltway Speedster Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I live in Alexandria. I work in Reston at odd
> hours. I never know what the situation is with
> respect to accidents, delays, etc. Since these are
> my 2 points of travel, I can use the entire length
> of the Express Lanes in both directions and not
> have to deal with people entering and exiting as
> frequently as I would in the poor people's lanes.
> I've been using the lanes twice daily with just
> myself in the car and the switch in the HOV
> position since they opened. No tickets, no tolls,
> no problems.


You guys know that they have these things called "smart phones" and "GPS" that you can use to see virtually real-time traffic status right? Granted, it's easier just to take the 'safe' route option.

If it's worth it to you then go for it. I suppose that's what they're counting on. Based on the traffic volumes that I've seen on it I can't see how it's ever going to cover the costs. If it saves us whatever subsidies we're going to have to kick in to support it the way the deal is structured, like it or not, then I guess you're helping out.

Gordon Blvd Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @OP - also cause of the diff ramps. For some
> change, you can drive right into the mall without
> having the Tyson Blvd light hassles in the EZpass
> lanes. And you can also get to that back area of
> Tysons (near Ginnett - that area) a lot more easy
> as well cause they have more access points than
> the normal beltway so yeah, it's sooooooo worth
> the change if you are heading there
> on the same tip, I used to wonder why would ppl
> pay the Spring Hill Rd toll when you can just go
> around for free on 123 when they first built the
> toll road. Nowadays, I will routinely GLADLY pay
> the 75 cents to avoid all that bullshit LoLz


This is a good point. Access to Rte 29 from the Beltway has been a royal PITA for years - requiring you to exit onto 50 or Gallows and then make your way over to 29. With the Express lanes (at least coming from the Mixing Bowl), you can now access 29. Same those work off of Jones Branch in McLean.

Ezpasser Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Because: 1. I got EZ Pass 2. I can use the
> express land 3. I make more money than the OP 3.
> Avoid the Rif Raf drivers like the OP, loving it
> while it last. I'm going to enjoy the hell out of
> the express lane while a few of us now use it,
> Now. I'll be looking for your company soon Rif
> Raf, like the saying goes There goes the
> neighborhood.
Attachments:

It's my money and I'll do with it as I please.

Knock yerself out Skippy.

I figured maybe they're driving someone else's car who they don't like, or maybe the cars are stolen.

It's because this is Northern Va, people are useless cunts.

Well, the toll is pretty minimal and you can't simply jump off and jump on.

Once you get on at I395/495, you're committed for some distance.

Cause their stupid.

I see state police by nearly every northbound transponder spot during the evening rush. They are obivously looking for HOV violators.

Haven't used them myself more than once but some of the new entrances/exits they've created for the HOT lanes are more convenient than the existing exits.

E.g. there's now an exit from 495N onto Rt 29, and from Rt 29 onto 495S, which saves you the Rt 50 interchange clusterfuck if you're trying to get to the new Mosaic center from Annandale/Springfield direction. That's worth the 50 cents or whatever to get on at Gallows Rd.

Can't think of many other good uses for it though.

Mofo Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I see state police by nearly every northbound
> transponder spot during the evening rush. They are
> obivously looking for HOV violators.

Have you ever seen them stopping someone? I haven't. Do keep us posted.

Who are the cops stopping? Seems like mostly speeders or vehicles with 3 or more axles. Saturday night I drove by a cop sitting on the side of the HOT lanes and I was by myself with the transponder on "HOV ON".

Lone driver Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Who are the cops stopping? Seems like mostly
> speeders or vehicles with 3 or more axles.
> Saturday night I drove by a cop sitting on the
> side of the HOT lanes and I was by myself with the
> transponder on "HOV ON".


Trucks are all that I've seen pulled over.

I see people blast past them at 75+ all the time with no reaction.

stephen Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Cause their stupid.


Wow. At least you spelled stupid right. You probably have a lot of practice with that word.