EZPass/Toll questions- nj and ny

[Goofygirl17]

I am having very frustrating time with the Massachusetts fastlane program. I just called them to doublecheck my account and good thing I did. They haven't processed it yet The woman I spoke to said that since I have a combination plate (a pickup in CT) that I need a commercial fastlane account. I asked why the rmv person didn't say that when my mother applied and why I wasn't told that when I spoke to the woman Tuesday about the other problem. She said she didn't know. Anyway, long story short I am supposed to get a call from a supervisor but I'm not holding my breath and it won't help with our trip anyway!

So... I think I'm going to pick up an EZPass on the go while we're heading down the Garden State Parkway on Friday. It costs $25 and that goes immediately onto your account and can be used immediately I will have 24 hours to call and verify my information. Also, I won't need a business or commercial account because my pickup weights less than 7,000 lbs.

My questions are:
we are leaving from CT- how many tolls will we pass through before we get to exit 171 on the garden state parkway? (the Montvale service center)

Will I need to go through a toll booth and get a ticket at the beginning of the gsp?

If so, can I use my ezpass at the other end when I get off or will I need to sit in line and pay?

I would appreciate any advice or information.

Thanks!
Goofygirl

I think the montvale service plaza is the best place to get it since all the other retail locations are in the bronx etc and we're trying to avoid going right through NY.- but I'm open to other suggestions

 

[JB2K]

Having lived in New Jersey in recent years, I can comment on some of your questions...

The GSP, unlike the NJ Turnpike and other tollways in your region, does not operate on a ticket system. They make use of cash and EZ-Pass, only (at one time, the GSP used a "tokens" system -- which I think may be history, now).

As of 2004, the GSP had the following lanes:

- Cash
- Exact Change Buckets
- E-ZPass
- High-Speed E-ZPass Lanes (where you can cruise at full speed)

Your best bet will be to have an EZ-Pass compatible tag on hand, as I can imagine those cash lanes (at the mainline toll plazas) get crazy-crowded during the summer months...

 

[francie57]

Not sure where you are in CT but we have always gone Rt. 84 to 684 to 287 over the Tappan Zee to the Garden State. You would not have any tolls until the Garden State. There are signs all over the Garden State saying that the EZPass is available at the rest areas now. There is a rest area on the left a few miles after getting on the Garden State so you can probably just get it there. A few of the toll plazas in NJ have high speed EZPass lanes which means you just keep driving and the cameras pick-up your info. Otherwise you will have to go to the toll booth that are marked for EZPass. They keep moving faster than the money lines. Be careful of your speed going through the toll boths because if you don't slow down to around the speed posted you will get a letter from EZPass warning you that they will revoke the EZPass if you continue to break the rules. We know a few people that have gotten them so we are just very careful to slow down at the toll booth. Other than that it is the greatest thing.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks for the responses.

We're taking 95 to 287 over the tappan zee to the GSP. I found a service area that will sell me the ezpass- the Montvale Service Area.

Do I pay the toll when I get on the GSP or when I get off?

I'm hoping it's when I get off because then I'll have the EZpass.

I looked at the map of the available retail sellers of ezpass and that looked like the one closest (actually on) our route.

Thanks again!
Goofygirl

 

[stephie1012]

you pay tolls to get on the GSP and off the GSP and then every so often there is a toll on the GSP....i live 2mins from the GSP, we travel south alot and the tolls are usually .35 to get off, and they are .75 to $1 depending on where you are. im not 100% sure since the prices keep changing.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Thanks Stephie. I just found out that there's a $1 a month charge for the ezpass. Not sure how that'll work since we only travel in the summer.

 

[JB2K]

Thanks Stephie. I just found out that there's a $1 a month charge for the ezpass. Not sure how that'll work since we only travel in the summer.

The $1 a month charge is only for those accounts opened with a New Jersey-based tollway agency. Other tollway agencies such as those in Illinois and Massachusetts, do not charge monthly fees for their transponsders.

 

[Goofygirl17]

That's why I was going to get in Massachusetts but that was fiasco!

It seems like the retail outlet closest to our route in on the GSP. I think that means we'll have to $1 monthly fee. It looks like the NY outlets are all near the city and we're trying to avoid all that traffic so we're taking 95 to 287 to the tappan zee to the GSP.

Thanks!

 

[francie57]

Not sure about the $1 charge - unless its new. We only use our EZpass a few times a year and only get charged when we go below the $25 limit we put on our charge card. We used a charge card since you didn't have to pay for any of the transponders (we have 3 of them) and they just keep us at a $25 balance. I know on my monthly statements I have not had a $1 charge at all.

 

[Goofygirl17]

Did you get your ezpass in NY? It sounds like only NJ has the $1 charge. I don't see any outlets in NY that I can get to without going through a lot of traffic.

 

[stephie1012]

i could be way off here lol usually i am but 287 is about 10minutes from my house can you just take 287 to the end and hop on the GSP there? it would eliminate the tappan zee bridge....maybe its easier to get on the GSP furhter north for you tho.

 

[Goofygirl17]

I don't know. I've researched it forever and gotten advice from lots of wonderful people. I think all of my directions take me over the tappan zee bridge though- the only other option (I think) was the George Washington bridge which is what we're trying avoid.

I'll check it out.

Thanks

 

[Tjkane28]

Hey Goofy Girl? Are you coming down 95 from CT or 84?

 

[Goofygirl17]

We're taking 95 to 287 to the tappan zee.

I considered taking the meritt instead of 95 but we should miss most of the traffic because we're leaving the New Haven area around 9:30 a.m. tomorrow so we're taking 95 unless I hear about traffic on the radio.

 

[rflorek]

Not sure about the $1 charge - unless its new. We only use our EZpass a few times a year and only get charged when we go below the $25 limit we put on our charge card. We used a charge card since you didn't have to pay for any of the transponders (we have 3 of them) and they just keep us at a $25 balance. I know on my monthly statements I have not had a $1 charge at all.

The $1 per month charge in NJ has been around for quite a while now. It only applies if you open your account in NJ through their highway authority.

 

[rflorek]

I may be confusing my posts, but didn't you say you were heading to VA Beach? You can't get there by Garden State Parkway alone - that only heads along the NJ shore (unless you are going all the way to Cape May & taking the ferry over to Delaware). I believe you will have to take the NJ Turnpike/95. On that road, your EZ-Pass will register at the toll booth where you get in and again at the end before the Delaware Bridge and charge you accordingly. The GSP has toll booths every 35 miles or so the further south you go.

Have fun on your trip!

 

[Goofygirl17]

You're right- we're heading to Va Beach tomorrow!! Actually we're stopping in Delaware- just over the bridge- tomorrow then going the rest of the way Saturday. We're taking 95 to 287 to the tappan zee to GSP to exit 129- back onto 95 over the delaware bridge and then onto 13 (I think it starts as rte 1?)

Thanks!

I can't wait to swim in the waves!!

Goofygirl

 

[taymacsmom]

Get the EZPass no matter what the charge.IMHO My inlaws live at the Jersey shore and we find it invaluable. It literally cuts an hour off of our trip especially in the summer. You can breeze through every toll booth even at the bridges (Tappan Zee and the GW). Pluss you open the account with a credit card and they automatically add whatever amount of money you authorize to your account when it gets low. We bought them a few years back and it was one of the best purchases we ever made. In fact, we are headed to the Jersey shore and Saturday and will be putting it to good use again.

 

[Goofygirl17]

We're definitely getting one tomorrow on the GSP. I just don't know if I'll keep the NJ one if there's a monthly charge because we only travel in the summer. I just can't believe that Mass was going to make me get a commercial account/transponder just because I have a pickup truck and CT uses a combination plate for them.

I can't wait!

 

[Tozzie]

We're definitely getting one tomorrow on the GSP. I just don't know if I'll keep the NJ one if there's a monthly charge because we only travel in the summer. I just can't believe that Mass was going to make me get a commercial account/transponder just because I have a pickup truck and CT uses a combination plate for them.

I can't wait!

If you live or drive by any of these retail locations and you have your computer access during your trip you can get a transponder and get the money back. http://www.e-zpassny.com/en/onthego/locations.shtml