new electronic toll system

E-ZPass electronic tolling off to a rough start on the Ohio Turnpike this week with mismatches between lane allocations and traffic, and motorist confusion about signs. Rather than speed throughput at the toll plazas there were longer queues than normal.

The customers are "exuberant" says executive-director Jeff Holland. "You'd think we'd abolished tolls and they were driving free. They just love it," he says of the way many motorists have reacted to the beginning of electronic tolling at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel (CBBT). On Oct 23 they fired up all the systems and began collecting transponder tolls - a week ahead of opening ceremonies and the contract date of Nov 1.