- Fast Lane
Fast Lane is the
RFID electronic toll collection system used in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. Fast Lane is used on theMassachusetts Turnpike (which also operates theSumner Tunnel andTed Williams Tunnel ) and on theMassachusetts Port Authority operatedTobin Bridge . It is also accepted at one parking structure operated by theMassachusetts Bay Transportation Authority . Fast Lane is fully interoperable with the manyE-ZPass facilities in other states, however, since mid-2002, FastLane users receive a discount on some tolls that E-ZPass users do not enjoy.History
The original electronic toll collection system in Massachusetts was called "MassPass" and was installed at the
Ted Williams Tunnel . This system was scrapped and replaced by the current E-ZPass-compatible system in 1998 for the Ted Williams Tunnel and the Massachusetts Turnpike Boston extension and extended to the rest of the turnpike in 1999.When the system was first introduced, AAA gave out to its
Western Massachusetts members an orange Fast Lane pass. This pass could be used from exits 1 to 6 without toll because these exits do not currently charge tolls. The orange passes are still used today.ponsors
Today (2005), the system is sponsored by Citizens Bank for the Massachusetts Turnpike and by
TD Banknorth for the Massachusetts Port Authority. [http://www.massport.com/about/press03/press_news_bankn.html] Along the Turnpike it is branded the Citizens Bank Fast Lane, whereas at the Tobin Bridge it is branded TD Banknorth Fastlane. Before Citizens Bank, Fleet Bank used to sponsor the Fast Lane system and was the founding financial institution of the local system along with the Massachusetts Turnpike.Cost
Consumers are required to pay the cost of the transponder, but do not have to pay a monthly fee for the use of Fast Lane.
External links
* [http://www.masspike.com/ Massachusetts Turnpike]
* [http://www.massport.com/bridges/ Massachusetts Port Authority]
* [http://www.ca1.uscourts.gov/cgi-bin/getopn.pl?OPINION=03-1312.01A 1st Circuit opinion in "Doran v. Massachusetts Turnpike Authority" upholding FastLane only discounts]
* [http://www.masspike.com/travel/fastlane/ FAST LANE] web site
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