‘Hoppy ANT-iversary’ Audubon Insectarium
June 9, 2009
Stephen "Joe" Andras
June 11, 2009
Department of Transportation and Development officials held an open house Monday at the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center to explain the new La. Highway 1 Expressway to residents.
Attendees could also purchase the GeauxPass, an electronic toll collection (ETC) transponder that allows drivers to ride unimpeded along the expressway.
The non-removable paper transponder costs $12.50 and can only be used for one vehicle. The removable hard case transponder is $32 and multiple licensed vehicles can be registered to it.
“We want to sell as many as possible,” said Mark Lambert, DOTD communications director. “Once that road opens, we want as many people in compliance as possible. We don’t want to send a lot of violation notices out.”
The ETC system is a first of its kind in the state. A metal gantry arches over the roadway with a sensor that detects a vehicle’s transponder and license plate.
The toll fee is automatically deducted from the driver’s registered account. Fees range from $2.50 for 2-axle passenger cars to $12.50 for 6-axle freight trucks.
Tolls are only collected on southbound vehicles. Drivers that travel the expressway without a transponder would have 48 hours to pay the $20 violation fee.
“People have questions, but when we’re talking to them, eventually they start to realize there’s no toll booth at all,” Lambert said. “They’re not going to hand the pass to anybody. It’s all done electronically.”
The first phase of the expressway, a toll bridge over Bayou Lafourche at Leeville, is expected to open after the Fourth of July holiday.
Toll collection will not start until after the Grand Isle Tarpon Rodeo, which ends July 25.
Staff photo by KEYON K. JEFF / Tri-Parish Times Lockport’s Ed Ordoyne (right) and Frank Barker (middle) each bought two GeauxPass transponders from Wynell Ortego, who will manage the Golden Meadow customer service center when it opens in July.
