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Mn/DOT distributes 20,000th MnPASS transponder
Demand for congestion-free travel continues as Crosstown project nears completion
ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation today distributed the 20,000th transponder for the MnPASS Express Lanes. In celebration, the two new customers that pushed the total transponder number past 20,000, Kim Iacarella, Burnsville and Kathi Moter, Plymouth, were awarded $25 in toll credits, in addition to the $15 in toll credits being offered by MnPASS to all new accounts until the end of the year.
“Motorists see the value in congestion-free travel, reliability and safety that the MnPASS Express Lanes offer,” said Nick Thompson, Mn/DOT project manager.
Currently, approximately 14,500 transponders are being used primarily on the I-394 Express Lanes, while approximately 5,500 transponders are being used primarily on the Interstate 35W lanes.
“We have seen more accounts opening lately in response to the coming November opening of the Crosstown section, which will further enhance I-35W MnPASS Express Lanes travel by providing a continuous route on the lanes for area commuters,” Thompson said.
A transponder is a small electronic device that is placed inside a solo driver’s vehicle. When the transponder is read by an overhead electronic device on the lanes, a modest toll is charged to a customer’s prepaid toll account. The MnPASS transponders are designed for use on the I-394 Express Lanes, which have been in operation since 2005, and the I-35W Express Lanes, which opened in September 2009.
MnPASS is currently offering $15 in toll credits to any new account opened before Dec. 31, 2010. Having a MnPASS account offers solo drivers the choice to pay to access the Express Lanes, including both the I-394 and the I-35W lanes. Carpools with two or more occupants, motorcycles and transit buses can use the Express Lanes free of charge.
Here is what our 20,000th and 20,001st winners had to say:
“ I just started my ‘dream job’ and it’s critical to get to work on time. MnPASS will give me a reliable commute,” said Iacarella.
“I’ve used MnPASS with my motorcycle, but I like the option to get to work on time when driving my car,” Moter said.
About MnPASS
The MnPASS Express Lanes offer motorists improved access to reliable travel in the busy
I-35W and I-394 corridors. Solo motorists with a valid MnPASS account can choose to pay a toll to access the Express Lanes.
Commuters can open a prepaid MnPASS account in less than 10 minutes online at www.mnpass.net or by calling the MnPASS Customer Service Center at 1-866-EZ-RIDE4 (1-866-397-4334). The MnPASS Welcome Kit will arrive in the mail with easy instructions for installing the transponder in the vehicle. The $15 in free toll credits will be deposited into the user’s MnPASS account.
The $15 in free MnPASS toll credits promotion is good for new accounts opened through Dec. 31, 2010, and cannot be applied to customers who have closed an account in the last six months. This promotion does not apply to transponders added to existing MnPASS accounts. The transponder will provide motorists’ access to the MnPASS Express Lanes on both I-35W and the existing lanes on I-394.
About the I-35W MnPASS Express Lanes
The new I-35W MnPASS Express Lanes include two segments—from Hwy 13 in Burnsville to I-494 and from I-494 to downtown Minneapolis. On the segment from I-494 to downtown, transit vehicles, carpools and MnPASS customers will be able to use a converted shoulder lane north of 42nd Street during certain times when traffic is congested. Electronic signs will alert drivers when the shoulder is open or closed.
The MnPASS Express Lanes are part of a coordinated effort by Mn/DOT and the Urban Partnership Agreement to manage increasing traffic on I-394, I-35W, Hwy 77/Cedar Avenue and in downtown Minneapolis. Through a combination of transit, road pricing, technology and telecommuting, project partners anticipate that commuters will experience more transportation choices, less traffic congestion and reduced commute times on some of Minnesota’s busiest roads.
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