Express Lanes on a Toll Road?

Call it a premium toll. Unlike most of the nation's managed lanes which exist adjacent to untolled, general purpose lanes, the "general use lanes" on Tampa's Veterans Expressway (SR 589) are tolled. Express lanes will be dynamically priced

2 minute read

May 24, 2018, 9:00 AM PDT

By Irvin Dawid


The second section of express lanes opened Wednesday on Veterans Expressway / SR 589 in Tampa, marking the completion of Phase 2A of the Florida Express Lanes project for west central Florida, reports Meredyth Censullo for WFLA News on May 23. That makes for nine miles of express lanes in each direction on the 57-mile toll road operated by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, a business unit of the Florida Department of Transportation created by Gov. Jeb Bush in 2002.

Initially, there will not be a premium charge for using the express lanes, although motorists will be penalized for lacking a transponder allowing electronic toll collection via SunPass. Cash or TOLL-BY-PLATE, which can be used in the general use lanes, isn't an option.

An earlier post was critical of the express lanes planned for Florida's Turnpike, calling them an example of "double tolling." However, all road users, including carpools, are tolled only once, regardless of which lane they select. Only one lane will be dynamically priced later this year (completing Phase 2B), which "will include the general toll, plus the variable express lane toll when applicable," according to last summer's Florida Express Lanes newsletter.

The higher-priced toll, for motorists with SunPasses willing to pay a premium, will allow for faster speeds, illustrating why some planners prefer to use the term, value pricing, rather than congestion pricing. In addition, registered buses and vanpools are exempt from paying express lanes tolls.

Hat tip to IBTTA SmartBrief.

 

Wednesday, May 23, 2018 in WFLA

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit