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The Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of testing important tolling and technology equipment along 95 Express in Miami-Dade County. During testing activities you may notice:
For the most part the lane closures will take place during non-peak times. Tolls, while displayed on the signs, will not be collected during this test period. The display of the toll is part of the testing of the equipment and communications. Toll collection will begin no earlier than one week after testing is complete. The testing period is anticipated to be completed towards the end of October 2008. A follow up email will be provided once the exact date of tolling is determined. The toll for SunPass customers will vary based on congestion pricing , so it will be higher during peak periods when many vehicles are using the express lanes, and lower during non-peak periods when demand is less. The rate will be clearly displayed on electronic message signs before drivers need to make their decision. The system is designed so drivers will not be charged more than the rate on the signs just before entering. Tolls are expected to be between $0.25 and $2.65 under average traffic conditions. But in unusual circumstances of very extreme conditions, tolls could be up to $6.20 in order to provide operating speeds of between 45 – 50 MPH and offer trip reliability to those who choose to use the express lanes. Please be courteous, cautious, patient, remain calm |
FDOT is confident that with the improved driver information and with increasing familiarity of the public the Express Lanes will operate smoothly.
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What is 95 Express? |
Computer Rendering of 95 Express Lanes |
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Why use 95 Express Project Overview |
About 95 Express Project - Video |
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Emergency vehicles, registered vanpools, registered carpools of 3 or more passengers, registered hybrid vehicles and motorcycles can use the lanes without paying a toll. Buses of several types can also use the lanes toll free -- Miami-Dade and Broward County express and regular transit, public school and over-the-road. Trucks will not be allowed to use the express lanes. Vanpools, carpools and hybrids can register their vehicles with South Florida Commuter Services. Other vehicles can use 95 Express by paying a toll with SunPass. The amount will be clearly posted on overhead signs. Because the tolls will be collected electronically, toll-paying drivers will need to own and display a SunPass transponder which can be purchased at Publix, CVS Pharmacies or Turnpike service plazas. Click here to purchase a SunPass transponder.
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Phase 1 Entry and Exits Diagram Final Entry and Exits Diagram |
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Registration for non-toll paying users of 95 Express is through South Florida Commuter Services (SFCS), the regional commuter assistance program funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). Vehicles that can register to use the lanes at no charge are 3+ passenger carpools, hybrids and South Florida Vanpools.. 3+ Carpool Registration - Carpools eligible for registration must have at least three commuters traveling to and from work in one vehicle. Each will be provided a 95 Express decal that will allow them to use the 95 Express lanes and take turns driving without incurring toll charges. The registration process is as follows: Step 1: Registrants can visit the SFCS website at Step 2: SFCS will send out the appropriate 95 Express All carpool participants must sign the carpool registration form prior to submitting it to SFCS acknowledging that the information provided is accurate. Personal information including home address and home phone number submitted to SFCS will only be used to register a carpool, then to provide 95 Express information and a decal. Personal information will be kept confidential and is only accessible to SFCS and SunPass. Participants planning to use their personal vehicles for the carpool will be required to provide their driver’s license numbers and tag information; those who are just riders in the carpool need only provide their home/work information. Carpool participants can request no more than one decal per individual. The 3+ 95 Express Decal is valid for six months. Hybrid Registration - An Inherently Low Emissions Vehicle (ILEV) or a Hybrid vehicle is defined as a vehicle which is included in the eligibility list provided by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. SFCS in conjunction with the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) will inform registered High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) users about the 95 Express Lanes registration process
for hybrid vehicles. A letter will be distributed to all current HOV
decal registrants in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties notifying them
that they are requested to register their hybrid vehicle with SFCS
which will allow them to use the 95 Express lanes without incurring a
toll. Also enclosed with this letter will be a Hybrid Vehicle Registration Form for owners to complete in order for them
to receive the 95 Express decal for hybrid vehicles. South Florida Vanpool Information - A South Florida Vanpool is a van carrying five to fifteen passengers who commute together. Registration is through the South Florida Vanpool Program managed by the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization with coordination from the Metropolitan Planning Organizations of Broward and Palm Counties. South Florida Vanpools will use 95 Express for commuting purposes only. A 95 Express decal will remain active as long as the South Florida Vanpool continues to be part of the South Florida Vanpool program NOTE:
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Five additional bus routes and up to 23 new, low emission buses are included in the 95 Express operational strategy and will originate from a number of locations in Broward and southern Palm Beach County. Three of these routes will provide direct express service to downtown Miami, making use of the existing HOV lanes at first and ultimately on the express lanes. Two will provide express bus service on existing east-west arterial roadways of Broward and Palm Beach counties. All routes would benefit from signal priority treatments to reduce signal wait times for buses and improve travel times along several major north-south and east-west routes. The overall impact of the new services will be reduced levels of traffic congestion, increased travel speeds, increased safety, and reduced travel time.
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The toll will fluctuate throughout the day to keep 95 Express from becoming congested with vehicles. The variable toll is based on congestion pricing, which means the toll goes up or down depending on the traffic volume. The toll will be higher during peak periods when demand is greater and lower during non-peak periods when the demand is less. This congestion pricing keeps traffic flowing freely by monitoring the number of vehicles accessing the express lanes. If travel speeds in 95 Express lanes start to slow and fall below 50 miles per hour, the toll will increase to maintain a free flowing condition.
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All vehicles not eligible for toll exemption must display a SunPass transponder, and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise Violation Enforcement System will electronically monitor traffic. Drivers without transponders will have their license plates photographed and receive an Unpaid Toll Notice (UTN) for failing to pay a toll. Failure to resolve the UTN will result in a Uniform Traffic Citation (UTC). Enforcement of the 3+ person occupancy rule is done by Florida Highway Patrol. Enforcement beacons mounted on the gantry structures will alert troopers patrolling the lanes when a vehicle without a transponder has passed underneath the gantry. The vehicle could be a 95 Express violator if it does not meet the occupancy requirements. Click here for more Toll Violation Enforcement Information
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Ramp Signals are traffic lights that improve traffic flow by controlling the rate at which vehicles merge onto an expressway from an entrance ramp. |
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The 95 Express reflects a growing national trend where urban areas are converting High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes into HOT (High Occupancy Toll) facilities. The concept has been very successful in other metropolitan areas throughout the country including: |
| 91 Express Lanes: http://www.91expresslanes.com/ |
| 91 Express Lanes is a four-lane, 10-mile toll road built in the median of California's Riverside Freeway (State Route 91) between the Orange/Riverside County line and the Costa Mesa Freeway (State Route 55). |
| I-25 Express: http://www.dot.state.co.us/cte/expresslanes.cfm |
| These Express Lanes include seven miles of the I-25 HOV lanes between downtown Denver and US 36. |
| I-394 MnPASS Express Lanes: http://www.mnpass.org/ |
MnPASS Express Lanes on I-394 opened in May 2005 between downtown Minneapolis and the western suburbs.
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A major component of 95 Express will be the implementation of expanded and new Express/Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) services that will provide a seamless connection without transfers for commuters riding the bus between Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
The toll rates on the express lanes will vary for vehicles that do not qualify for a toll exemption. Those vehicles that can use the lanes without paying a toll are registered vanpools, registered carpools of 3+, registered hybrid vehicles and motorcycles. Buses of several types can also use the lanes toll free -- Miami-Dade and Broward County express and regular transit, public school and over-the-road. Trucks will not be allowed to use the express lanes even by paying a toll.
