Virginia transportation officials are considering a $1 monthly charge for E-ZPass transponders, a cost that could make the automatic tolling passes less attractive to users as the state plans to create more tolls.
The Virginia Department of Transportation said Thursday that officials are considering various options to help fund customer support for the devices as the state expects to double the number of E-ZPass users when new tolling facilities open.
VDOT officials presented the plan to charge a $1 monthly fee to the Commonwealth Transportation Board on Wednesday. The public would get a chance to comment on any fees before they are approved.
Drivers are known to shop around for the best deals for the transponders, which are used along much of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast.
However, Virginia’s passes could still be a better deal than devices bought from nearby Maryland, which charges a monthly $1.50 maintenance fee if drivers use the pass fewer than three times a month.
Last month, Virginia officials had discussed a plan to sell the units for $35 at stores such as Target, with drivers getting the full amount to pay tolls. Drivers now pay a $25 security deposit for the units, unless they tie their E-ZPass accounts to their bank accounts for automatic transfers.
