Cashless Tolling Begins Saturday, Dec. 11
The North Texas Tollway Authority will complete its transition to a cashless toll system at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, with the conversion of the Dallas North Tollway, Addison Airport Toll Tunnel and Mountain Creek Lake Bridge.
Starting at 8 p.m., rolling lane closures will be in effect as new signs are installed and old signs are removed. Crews will use flags to direct traffic in front of and behind the work convoy, and advance electronic signs will also direct traffic. Toll booth lanes will be closed off and cash collecting equipment removed on the Dallas North Tollway, Addison Airport Toll Tunnel and Mountain Creek Lake Bridge.
The transition will occur late Friday, Dec. 10, and by 12:01 a.m. Saturday, motorists will no longer need to stop to pay cash to drive on NTTA tollways. Motorists without TollTags instead will be billed later at the higher rate with ZipCash, the NTTA’s pay-by-invoice option.
“All customers should keep moving as they approach toll plazas and ramps,” said NTTA Executive Director Allen Clemson. “For the safety of all motorists, we encourage drivers to follow our signage and use caution next week as ZipCash customers adjust to new travel patterns.”
Over the next few months, construction will continue on the cashless tolling conversion project as toll booths and other equipment are removed from the Dallas North Tollway, Mountain Creek Lake Toll Bridge and Addison Airport Toll Tunnel. All other NTTA roadways already use all-electronic toll collection.
“The switch to cashless tolling brings our region reduced congestion, improved safety and enhanced air quality through the free flow of traffic and the elimination of stopping and starting and weaving of toll booths,” said Clemson.
Motorists can expect to see continued construction, the removal of toll booths and the replacement of some toll gantries over the next few months. New toll gantries were erected near the main lane plazas at Keller Springs and Parker Road prior to the transition to all-electronic tolling and will be turned on at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.
Below are answers to some Frequently Asked Questions to help you navigate your way through the Dallas North Tollway conversion:
Will you be removing lanes?
Access to cash booths will be eliminated so that all traffic uses free-flowing lanes. No express lanes will be removed or eliminated.
What type of construction will take place on the roadway?
- Crews will remove all signage related to stopping to pay cash along the Dallas North Tollway. Signs detailing ZipCash payment rates will be unveiled and directional construction signage will be added to assist drivers with navigating through the construction zone.
- On Dec. 11, temporary barrels will be placed on the roadway, closing off the cash lanes. There will be three main lanes throughout the Dallas North Tollway. All entrance and exit ramps will use a single lane.
- Traffic monitors will help during peak hours on the morning and afternoon of Monday, Dec. 13 to assist motorists advising them to “Keep Moving.”
- Motorists will see also new rate signs displaying the TollTag and the ZipCash rates. Drivers are encouraged to get a TollTag for ease of payment and preferred pricing.
How will construction activity affect my commute?
- NTTA expects traffic to move slower for the first week as drivers adjust to the new lane configurations and traffic patterns. We are requesting that all drivers use caution especially when entering and exiting the Dallas North Tollway where on-going demolition construction continues.
- Traffic will continuously improve as drivers experience the free flow of traffic and the elimination of weaving, stopping and starting at cash booths.
When will the Dallas North Tollway construction activity be completed?
- Construction of the new ramp gantries and demolition of the old infrastructure will continue through June along the Dallas North Tollway corridor. All old booths and plazas will be completely removed and replaced by all new gantries for permanent cashless tolling operations.
- NTTA provides traffic information at www.ntta.org and on the NTTA information line at 214-224-3030.
Will toll rates change?
- Most ZipCash rates will be reduced by a few pennies, reflecting the distance traveled. Previously, cash rates have been rounded up to the nearest nickel.
For more information and to watch a video on all-ETC, please visit http://www.ntta.org/AboutUs/Projects/AllETC.
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