I-Pass and the Florida Turnpike

No EZ-Pass compatible transponders will work in Florida.
 


It amazes me that with today's technology, various toll collection systems don't talk to each other.

I-Pass (Illinois), EZ-Pass (PA, NY, NJ, and other states in that area), plus the Indiana and Ohio systems (don't know their names) all work with each other. It sure makes driving between these states a lot easier!
 
It amazes me that with today's technology, various toll collection systems don't talk to each other.

I-Pass (Illinois), EZ-Pass (PA, NY, NJ, and other states in that area), plus the Indiana and Ohio systems (don't know their names) all work with each other. It sure makes driving between these states a lot easier!

These states have set up an agreement - remember the toll money that goes into that transponder goes to the state in which you have the account since you have paid the tolls to that state. They have set up some sort of arrangement to transfer the funds to the correct state. Florida might not want to do that.
 
Florida might not want to do that.

It's not that at all. The three systems that operate in Florida (SunPass, E-PASS & LeeWay) all use the same technology and thus are interoperable with each other but the technology used in the EZ-Pass states is completely different. So it's not a matter of computers talking to each other and transferring the money. The toll plazas in Florida cannot "read" EZ-Pass transponders just as the the toll plazas in EZ-Pass states cannot "read" Florida transponders. I don't recall which is which but one system uses "active" transponders which contain a battery and can emit a signal on its own while the other uses a "passive" transponder which requires the toll plaza equipment to wake it up as you drive through. They are simply incompatible with each other and everyone has way too much money invested in their current systems to switch over.

If you visit Florida at least annually, consider purchasing a SunPass Mini for $5 which comes with $5 worth of tolls. This must be affixed to your windshield to work so it's really only good for your permanent car. Those that visit and use rental cars should consider a regular SunPass for $25 which can be brought with you for use in your various rental cars.

BobK/Orlando
 


Can someone help me calculate the tolls? I have the mini from a couple years ago. AAA Trip Tik has me getting on the turnpike from I75 at Wildwood? Taking the Turnpike to 429 to Western way?

thanks :-)

ps regarding the other states, I have Indiana's too and would love to get my hands on a New York "sticker" type like Florida's. Indiana is charging $1 per month just to have the transponder and we just don't use it that much and the tollroad is literally in our backyard.
 
The toll on the Turnpike from I-75 at Wildwood to TOLL 429 at Winter Garden is $2.50 cash or $2.00 with SunPass. There is one dedicated SunPass lane in each direction and you go through without stopping, but it's narrow so you do have to slow down.

If you head south on TOLL 429 to the Disney exit, there is one additional toll plaza on the 429. That toll is $1.25 cash or transponder. For those with a transponder, the sign will say "E-PASS ONLY" but SunPass is accepted. Please note that at this toll plaza those paying cash "exit" the main highway to the toll booths while those with the transponder stay on the mainline and go through the toll at full highway speeds, just like I-PASS users do around Chicago.

If instead you stayed on the Turnpike to I-4 instead of exiting onto the 429, there is a exit ramp toll at I-4 which is $.50 cash or transponder.

BobK/Orlando
 
Hope I am not going too off topic but since there seems to be someone Very knowledgable about the Fl. tolls.....

I am driving from West Palm Beach to WDW this summer..... do you have any idea how much the tolls are going to be and if it is worth it to buy a Sunpass or mini-sunpass ahead of time? Once you buy that it is yours forever right...because I anticipate that this will be used once a year..ish.

Thanks.
 
Hope I am not going too off topic but since there seems to be someone Very knowledgable about the Fl. tolls.....

I am driving from West Palm Beach to WDW this summer..... do you have any idea how much the tolls are going to be and if it is worth it to buy a Sunpass or mini-sunpass ahead of time? Once you buy that it is yours forever right...because I anticipate that this will be used once a year..ish.

Thanks.

Here is the toll calculator. http://www.floridasturnpike.com/TRI/index.htm
 
I am driving from West Palm Beach to WDW this summer..... do you have any idea how much the tolls are going to be and if it is worth it to buy a Sunpass or mini-sunpass ahead of time? Once you buy that it is yours forever right...because I anticipate that this will be used once a year..ish.

The toll from West Palm Beach to the I-4 exit in Orlando is $11.90 cash or $9.60 with SunPass. That section of the Turnpike is a "closed" system or "ticket" system. If paying cash, you get a ticket when you enter the Turnpike and you turn it in and pay the toll when you get off. The closed system actually ends just south of Kissimmee so you pay the toll there and continue on the Turnpike's "open" system north from there. But there are no further tolls from there to I-4. If you have a transponder, you don't need a ticket as the toll plazas know where you entered and where you exited and deduct the discounted toll from your account.

Sure it's worth buying a SunPass. Anything prepaid does not expire and is fully refundable, you don't have to wait in long lines at toll plazas & at many tolls you travel through at highway speeds. It is valid at toll roads and toll bridges throughout Florida from Pensacola to the Keys. Around Orlando many toll roads are operated by a separate agency that calls their transponder E-PASS. (Different than EZ-PASS in NY) SunPass is valid in all E-PASS lanes too.

BobK/Orlando
 

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