The Star-Ledger opined last week that NJ toll road authorities should ensure that every toll lane in the state is able to read E-ZPass toll tags. The paper argued that this would cut down on weaving and lane-jockeying among drivers going into toll plazas.

We disagree. The money the highway agencies would have to spend to undertake this upgrade would be better off in a fund used to continue the creation of high-speed E-ZPass lanes after the first generation of such lanes is completed in 2005.

Enabling every toll lane for E-ZPass is unlikely to significantly cut down on pre-toll weaving. Drivers paying cash will still need to find a cash-accepting lane. Drivers with E-ZPass will still try to find dedicated electronic lanes to avoid mixing in with slow cash-payers. Only a minority will resign themselves to a slower lane just to avoid jockeying for position.

The more fundamental issue here is minimizing the number of cash payers at the toll plazas. They slow themselves and all other drivers down. Future policies to do this include having the DMV issue an E-ZPass tag with all car registrations. Drivers would get directions for activating an account along with the tag. The number of cash lanes should also be gradually reduced, including elimination of Garden State Parkway coin-toss baskets, to increase the relative utility of E-ZPass.

The nine "open road tolling" installations New Jersey will have by 2005 where E-ZPass holders will pay tolls without slowing down from highway speeds will minimize jockeying because lane barriers will make motorists take their lane well in advance of the toll area itself. These facilities will also increase E-ZPass’ market share of toll payments by providing a far higher level of service than that experienced by stop-and-go cash payers.

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