Express Lanes and E-ZPass in Northern Virginia

The Express Lanes in Northern Virginia are 14 miles of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes from the Springfield Interchange to north of the Dulles Toll Road and run along interstate 495. Free travel will be available for vehicles with three or more people as well as buses and motorcycles. Anyone not falling under that category will have to pay a toll if they want to use the Express Lanes.

E-ZPass customers should be aware that if you plan on using the Express Lanes with three or more occupants in the vehicle you’ll need a new transponder. The new device is called a Flex transponder. Anyone who doesn’t plan to use the 495 Express Lanes in HOV mode can continue to use their standard transponder.

With the new transponders going into place a new fee structure has also been released and goes into effect September 1, 2012.

Current E-ZPass Customers: anyone who has an open account as of 7/9/2012 will not be charged a monthly fee until they replace their standard transponder or add an additional transponder to their account. At that time they will then be charged 50 cents per month for a standard transponder or $1.00 for a flex transponder.

New E-ZPass Customers: anyone who opens an account after 7/9/2012 will be charged a 50 cent fee per month for a standard transponder or $1.00 for a flex transponder.

Only Using Your Flex Transponder For Carpooling?

If you use your flex transponder exclusively for carpooling on the 495 Express Lanes and future 95 Express Lanes your monthly fee will be waived.

The 495 Express Lanes are set to open sometime in December. In the meantime Flex transponder customers will only be charged the 50 cents per month until they officially open. Anyone planning to travel on the new Express Lanes must have an E-ZPass transponder. To open an account visit www.EZPassVA.com or visit the Tysons Corner DMV.