wahyinghung
04-16-2009, 05:48 PM
METRO VANCOUVER - Drivers planning to use the $800-million Golden Ears Bridge when it opens this summer can start signing up now for a break on electronic tolls.
TransLink has opened its Quickpass customer service centre, allowing drivers to register for discounted electronic tolling passes, either by leasing a transponder or signing up as a video customer.
Both will give drivers a discounted rate on the tolls compared to those who opt to ‘pay-as-you-go’ when crossing the bridge.
Fred Cummings, TransLink vice-president of major construction projects, said the first customer signed up as soon as the centre opened on Wednesday.
“It’s all been very positive,” he said. “What people like about it, is it doesn’t affect their travel time. They don’t have to have correct change and don’t have to stop or slow down on the bridge.”
The Golden Ears Bridge marks the first electronically tolled crossing in western Canada. It will be equipped with toll sensors and digital cameras to track and identify every vehicle that travels on the one-kilometre span.
Overhead electronic sensors will detect whether a vehicle passing underneath is a car, truck or motorcycle and whether it is equipped with a transponder. Tolls will be charged accordingly.
Drivers who sign up as a transponder customer would lease the unit from TransLink, putting down a $10 deposit and paying $1 per month. The transponders, which can be placed on the front dashboard, would link with the vehicle licence plates to provide information leading to the address of the vehicle's owner.
Drivers with transponders would be charged a discounted toll of $2.85 for cars and standard vans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.
The toll rises to $3.45 per crossing for those who have registered for the payment system — as a video customer but drive without transponders. If a vehicle doesn't have a transponder, digital cameras will snap a photo of its rear licence plate.
Drivers who cross without registering and don’t have a transponder will be billed $4 by mail.
Motorcyclists pay $1.45 to $2.55. Truck drivers pay $5.75 to $9.75, depending on the vehicle’s size and whether they have a transponder. Bicycles, electric bikes and pedestrians, transit and emergency vehicles are exempt from toll fees.
Drivers will not be able to renew their vehicle’s ICBC insurance or driver’s licence with outstanding toll bills over $25.
Cummings said drivers can either prepay for the service, bill it to a credit card or receive a monthly bill in the mill. About 30,000 vehicles are expected to use the bridge daily when it opens, with the tolls bringing in roughly $50 million to $100 million a year, he said. The bridge will be paid off in about 32 years.
TransLink said the Quickpass customer service centre has created 31 new jobs in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.
Drivers can register for the system online at www.quickpasstolling.ca, call 604-460-5050 or visit the Quickpass customer service centre in Pitt Meadows or Langley.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Cars/ready+tolls+Golden+Ears+Bridge/1503937/story.html
TransLink has opened its Quickpass customer service centre, allowing drivers to register for discounted electronic tolling passes, either by leasing a transponder or signing up as a video customer.
Both will give drivers a discounted rate on the tolls compared to those who opt to ‘pay-as-you-go’ when crossing the bridge.
Fred Cummings, TransLink vice-president of major construction projects, said the first customer signed up as soon as the centre opened on Wednesday.
“It’s all been very positive,” he said. “What people like about it, is it doesn’t affect their travel time. They don’t have to have correct change and don’t have to stop or slow down on the bridge.”
The Golden Ears Bridge marks the first electronically tolled crossing in western Canada. It will be equipped with toll sensors and digital cameras to track and identify every vehicle that travels on the one-kilometre span.
Overhead electronic sensors will detect whether a vehicle passing underneath is a car, truck or motorcycle and whether it is equipped with a transponder. Tolls will be charged accordingly.
Drivers who sign up as a transponder customer would lease the unit from TransLink, putting down a $10 deposit and paying $1 per month. The transponders, which can be placed on the front dashboard, would link with the vehicle licence plates to provide information leading to the address of the vehicle's owner.
Drivers with transponders would be charged a discounted toll of $2.85 for cars and standard vans, pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles.
The toll rises to $3.45 per crossing for those who have registered for the payment system — as a video customer but drive without transponders. If a vehicle doesn't have a transponder, digital cameras will snap a photo of its rear licence plate.
Drivers who cross without registering and don’t have a transponder will be billed $4 by mail.
Motorcyclists pay $1.45 to $2.55. Truck drivers pay $5.75 to $9.75, depending on the vehicle’s size and whether they have a transponder. Bicycles, electric bikes and pedestrians, transit and emergency vehicles are exempt from toll fees.
Drivers will not be able to renew their vehicle’s ICBC insurance or driver’s licence with outstanding toll bills over $25.
Cummings said drivers can either prepay for the service, bill it to a credit card or receive a monthly bill in the mill. About 30,000 vehicles are expected to use the bridge daily when it opens, with the tolls bringing in roughly $50 million to $100 million a year, he said. The bridge will be paid off in about 32 years.
TransLink said the Quickpass customer service centre has created 31 new jobs in Pitt Meadows and Maple Ridge.
Drivers can register for the system online at www.quickpasstolling.ca, call 604-460-5050 or visit the Quickpass customer service centre in Pitt Meadows or Langley.
http://www.vancouversun.com/Cars/ready+tolls+Golden+Ears+Bridge/1503937/story.html