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NORTHERN UTAH -- Beginning Tuesday morning at 6, drivers can sign up for the Utah Department of Transportation's new "pay as you go" Express Lanes.
A transponder -- a small electronic pass placed behind the rear-view mirror of a vehicle -- will allow single drivers on Interstate 15 to drive in the carpool lane for a fee.
Pricing for each zone will range from 25 cents to $1 based on congestion levels with costs highest during peak traffic times. -UDOT
UDOT says the rate will depend on how busy traffic is at the time. If it's light traffic, it will be 25 cents a zone. For heavy traffic, it could be $1.
"If you're in a really big hurry and you absolutely have to get somewhere, it's probably worth it at that time for you to pay the higher rate of a dollar to travel in that zone," said UDOT spokesman Nile Easton. "Maybe that day that you don't really need to be, you can pop out and save the money."
UDOT has divided I-15 into four zones with sensors that detect the passes. If you're carpooling, all you have to do is turn off the sensor.
The first 2,000 drivers who sign up for a prepaid account will get their sensors free. After that, they'll cost about $8.75.
CLICK HERE to visit UDOT's sign-up page.
