I've had Smart Tag for ages and I thought commuters were encouraged to participate in the program. I am very frustrated that BOTH the in-bound toll booths at Reston Parkway are manned during rush hour each morning. They are both Full Service instead of One Full Service and the other being Exact Change of Smart Tag only. It is very frustrating to have to sit in either lane while people are holding up the lanes hunting for change. Where is the incentive to use Smart Tag. It is during rush hour that Smart Tag is most valuable. Just because they have the bodies to man the toll plazas doens't mean they should use them

I agree

I also think they should raise the rush toll, and abolish it during off-peak hours, or at least at night when NOBODY mans the exit booths.

Annoyed Dulles Toll Rd Commuter Wrote:
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> I've had Smart Tag for ages and I thought
> commuters were encouraged to participate in the
> program. I am very frustrated that BOTH the
> in-bound toll booths at Reston Parkway are manned
> during rush hour each morning. They are both Full
> Service instead of One Full Service and the other
> being Exact Change of Smart Tag only. It is very
> frustrating to have to sit in either lane while
> people are holding up the lanes hunting for
> change. Where is the incentive to use Smart Tag.
> It is during rush hour that Smart Tag is most
> valuable. Just because they have the bodies to
> man the toll plazas doens't mean they should use
> them

How much do the toll booth operators charge for full service?

It's not what they charge that matters, it's the fact they make you do it in that little toll-booth bathroom they have that counts.

My main gripe is with the main toll plaza. They need more than 2 dedicated speed pass lanes in both directions. Make it at least 4 each way, as I believe doing so will cause more people to get a speed pass since the cash lanes will back up more.

Currently, I go through the cash lanes with my speed pass every morning since it's faster than waiting to go through the 2 dedicated speed pass lanes.

Annoyed Dulles Toll Rd Commuter Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've had Smart Tag for ages and I thought
> commuters were encouraged to participate in the
> program. I am very frustrated that BOTH the
> in-bound toll booths at Reston Parkway are manned
> during rush hour each morning. They are both Full
> Service instead of One Full Service and the other
> being Exact Change of Smart Tag only. It is very
> frustrating to have to sit in either lane while
> people are holding up the lanes hunting for
> change. Where is the incentive to use Smart Tag.
> It is during rush hour that Smart Tag is most
> valuable. Just because they have the bodies to
> man the toll plazas doens't mean they should use
> them


This would be due to the design of both of the on-ramps. The on-ramps from both northbound and southbound Reston Parkway meet at the same toll booth. Not that anyone on this website cares or even pays attention to roadway signs but if you look you will see a sign stating that lane changes are not permitted during morning rush hour as this would most certainly tie traffic up even more by people switching lanes to get in the correct lane. The left toll lane is supposed to be used by vehicles entering the toll road from southbound Reston Parkway and the right toll lane is supposed to be used by vehicles entering the toll road from northbound Reston Parkway. Since there are only two toll lanes and lane changes are not permitted due to the CF that would likely ensue, both lanes are staffed by employees and it's not possible to have a SmartTag only lane. There's your answer...

RESton Peace Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I agree
>
> I also think they should raise the rush toll, and
> abolish it during off-peak hours, or at least at
> night when NOBODY mans the exit booths.


Thats a really good idea. I would never be able to get off until leesburg until i got EZ pass, since I rarely carry change around

answer man Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Annoyed Dulles Toll Rd Commuter Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I've had Smart Tag for ages and I thought
> > commuters were encouraged to participate in the
> > program. I am very frustrated that BOTH the
> > in-bound toll booths at Reston Parkway are
> manned
> > during rush hour each morning. They are both
> Full
> > Service instead of One Full Service and the
> other
> > being Exact Change of Smart Tag only. It is
> very
> > frustrating to have to sit in either lane while
> > people are holding up the lanes hunting for
> > change. Where is the incentive to use Smart
> Tag.
> > It is during rush hour that Smart Tag is most
> > valuable. Just because they have the bodies to
> > man the toll plazas doens't mean they should
> use
> > them
>
>
> This would be due to the design of both of the
> on-ramps. The on-ramps from both northbound and
> southbound Reston Parkway meet at the same toll
> booth. Not that anyone on this website cares or
> even pays attention to roadway signs but if you
> look you will see a sign stating that lane changes
> are not permitted during morning rush hour as this
> would most certainly tie traffic up even more by
> people switching lanes to get in the correct lane.
> The left toll lane is supposed to be used by
> vehicles entering the toll road from southbound
> Reston Parkway and the right toll lane is supposed
> to be used by vehicles entering the toll road from
> northbound Reston Parkway. Since there are only
> two toll lanes and lane changes are not permitted
> due to the CF that would likely ensue, both lanes
> are staffed by employees and it's not possible to
> have a SmartTag only lane. There's your answer...


I don't think that makes sense. Many times all the commuters do have Smart Tag so at certain times cars are zipping through both lanes and both the toll booth operators just stand there with nothing to do. There is no rhyme or reason to this. Everyone can be clipping along and all of a sudden a driver without Fast Toll--and often no Exact change--slows a lane down to a stand still. It makes much more sense--and would encourage many to get a ST--if only one was full service and the other was Fast Tag only.

Could not agree more with "Annoyed Too".
It does not matter what answer man wrote - all lanes accept Smart Tag, and they should only man 1-2 of them during rush hour. It costs less for organization managing the tolls, and it creates incentive for people to use Smart Tag. Win Win all around.

Always posting about free/discounted stuff...

they need to trash that $3.30 for the greenway... what a joke

they need to increase the cost of the greenway to the point where fewer people use it so it gets the LC commuters out of my way