ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Dozens of drivers who spoke with News 6 said they have not tried out the new I-4 toll lanes for different reasons: too complicated, too scary or just unnecessary during off-peak hours.
But the drivers who have tried them love them.
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Joseph Hubbard, a salesman, said the lanes save him time, money and gas.
“I need to move around quite a bit,” Hubbard said. “So it gets me across there quicker where I need to be.”
Hubbard helped contribute to the $1,461,029 the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said it collected in revenue from the toll lanes between March 3 and March 31.
The toll lanes opened Feb. 26.
FDOT did not say how much of that $1.46 million is from violations but did say most Express lane drivers do have transponders.
The I-4 Express lanes do not have toll booths — only overhead electronic tolling.
If you don’t have a transponder, you’ll face a $25 fine. FDOT clarified that’s $25 per day, not per toll violation. Also, add in $2.50 every time FDOT mails you a ticket.
The main transponders that work on the Express lanes are the SunPass and E-Pass, but if you have another transponder from another state, like E-ZPass from up north, you can also use it on the I-4 toll lanes just like other Central Florida roads.
Several interoperable transponders are accepted: E-PASS, E-ZPass, LeeWay, NC Quick Pass and Peach Pass, according to FDOT.