This weekend, Georgia DOT (GDOT) and State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) have closed the GA 400 cruise lanes to upgrade the toll reader system to accept both the Cruise Card and Peach Pass transponders.

While the upgrade is being done, the tolls have been suspended and the cash lanes will be opened to allow traffic to proceed accordingly.

If you've been reading my prior blogs on the 400 tolls, then you know my total disdain for this broken promise. But to hear our dear friends at SRTA tell it, they have discontinued the "old" toll and will be implementing the "new" toll. Since I refuse to beat this dead horse any further, I'll drop it for now.

Speaking of Peach Pass, I've been thinking about some possible new places for the use of this (plus Cruise Cards).

First, I'd look into implementing SRTA's toll readers at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport parking areas.

This particular concept is not exactly new. Orlando International Airport has designated on-site parking areas that accept the E-PASS (Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority) and Florida SunPass transponders.

Second, I'd look at implementing the readers at Jekyll Island, Lake Lanier Islands, and Stone Mountain Park.

To prevent potential gate crashers, I wouldn't implement any tollway-style cruise lanes, but instead would install the devices at the existing gates. Once a vehicle with a valid Cruise Card or Peach Pass pulls up, a special dispenser would produce a ticket, the arm would raise, and in they go!

Third, I'd look at installing toll transponder readers at Georgia's state parks, choosing some of the parks within 60 miles of Downtown Atlanta, including, but not limted to, Amicalola Falls, Chattahoochee Bend, and Fort Yargo State Parks.

In each of these cases, I would look into installing a special lane(s) where a motorist pulls up to a specially marked gate with a setup similar to a pay-parking deck where a ticket is dispensed upon reading a valid transponder.

What are your thoughts regarding these possible non-tollway applications of toll transponders? Please feel free to share them by posting comments on the blog or on the GRG Facebook page.

That's it for now. Thanks for reading, thanks in advance for your comments, and please visit often.

 

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