Gwinnett County

State Tollway Authority to raise price for HOT lane tolls

By Tony Thomas, WSB-TV
By Tony Thomas, WSB-TV

GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — It's going to cost more for metro Atlanta commuters to avoid traffic.

Beginning Monday, the State Road and Tollway Authority will begin adjusting the prices for shorter rush hour trips in the Gwinnett County HOT lanes.

The HOT Lanes through Gwinnett are basically becoming too popular. Too many cars means congestion. So to ease the crush, the Tollway Authority is raising the price, but not everywhere. %

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“I wouldn't use it at all,” said Alvah Emmanuel about paying higher toll prices to use the lanes.

And that's exactly what the Tollway Authority wants to hear.

Officials say so many commuters are using the HOT Lanes between north Gwinnett and Interstate 285 that during rush hours, the express lanes are beginning to back up.

The price to use the lanes varies depending on demand, so officials say to ease demand between Jimmy Carter Boulevard and Pleasant Hill, they are going to make those shorter sections more expensive beginning Monday.

“Depending on how much the spiked it up, I'd think I’d still use it,” commuter Jack McLaughlin told Channel 2’s Tony Thomas.

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The head of the Tollway Authority told Thomas on Monday that he's not sure how expensive the shorter trip prices will be that's still being worked on.

The state says 27,000 commuters use the Gwinnett County express lanes on an average weekday.

“I think that’s too bad cause I think a lot of people use it,” commuter Jack McLaughlin said.

The authority said the increased prices for Peach Pass users will only be charged during peak rush hour times: 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.

“Unless it's an absolute emergency, if I have to get to work early or I have to get home on time or early then I might use it, but on a day to day basis absolutely not,” Emmanuel said.

So while it's still unclear how much the new rates will cost you, one thing the Tollway Authority does promise is a trip the entire length of the express lanes will not exceed the cap its set at $14.

Although at times even before this increase, they've hit $12 and change during the worst traffic.

Cox Media Group

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