Green E-ZPass arrived- was it worth it?

I don't know about the green pass part, but will it work on tolls in other states. We got it NH and it works in MA, NJ and I think NY, but not sure what the green part means.

 

Michael,
It cost us $27.50 in MA for the EZ Pass. Does the Green EZ Pass cost the same as a standard pass in RI?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 3 2006, 09:35 PM) [snapback]249443[/snapback]</div>

Mike,

Do they mean you only get the discount on the Thruway? Or the pass itself won't work anywhere but on the Thruway?

Doesn't seem practical if I cross the TapZee and then head up 84 to the Mass Pike that I would have to switch to the old white one, does it?

 

I just got mine also... I use the NYS Thruway almost every day. I have a commuter plan that I pay for with my EZPass. What this does is give you the 1st 30 miles a day free with every entry. So, it saves me alot of money (the Thruway being about 3 cents a mile toll)

When I called about the Green Pass, I asked if the 10% discount on the Green would be added to the Commuter Plan. After being placed on hold, I was told Yes.


When I got my pass, I saw the commuter plan was associated with my existing tag. I called again to correct this. I was told, NO, the Green tag cannot be used with any other plan. So, into a drawer it goes as my cummuter plan is a better deal by far. On one trip, the toll with the CP would be $1.86, with Green Pass $2.53.

 

I currently have an EZPass account with the NY and NJ Port Authorities. They charge monthly fee of $1.

When I request for the Green EZPass, I got a letter back saying that my EZPass account is not with the NYS Thruway Authority, and need to open an account with them to get the Green Pass. When I go to the NYS Thruway website and click on "Get EZPass", I got redirected to the same website where I got my current EZPass from, http://www.e-zpassny.com/. What's the deal with that?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 4 2006, 10:35 AM) [snapback]249670[/snapback]</div>

The Port Authority, the MTA, and NYS Thruway and Bridge Authority all service their accounts through the website you note. It is odd that you went to that site and got "assigned" to the Port Authority. I was living in Coram when I got my EZPass and my account is with the NYS Thruway Authority and pay no fee. (Could the no fee be because I have auto-withdrawal on the credit card?)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim1eye @ May 17 2006, 04:30 PM) [snapback]257116[/snapback]</div>

I have auto-withdrawal on the credit card too. Do you have discounts (10%) when going thru Port Authority tolls (Holland tunnel, Lincoln tunnel, etc.) during off peak hours?

And the Green Pass discount is only for the NYS Thruway anyways. I am not sure if I want to switch my account to NYS Thurway Authority.

 

I'm also being hit with the monthly fee. I thought they agreed to waive that for everyone?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Amyshubby @ May 17 2006, 05:49 PM) [snapback]257162[/snapback]</div>

where u hear that? when will that happen?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 18 2006, 10:55 AM) [snapback]257477[/snapback]</div>

I'm not sure when it was supposed to happen, but I saw it in a AAA newsletter we received.

I'll call EZ pass when I get a chance to f/u.

 

If you get your E-Z Pass through the Maryland Transportation Authority (http://www.ezpassmd.com), they don't charge you any fees whatsoever for it, and as long as you don't plan on buying a commuter plan, it doesn't matter in what state you use it. It's a sweet deal - I tell all my friends who use any of the toll tunnels even once in a while to get it, because without one, you have to sit in the queue for a very long time, and since the E-Z Pass doesn't cost a cent extra, why not get it?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 17 2006, 05:12 PM) [snapback]257141[/snapback]</div>

It's been a while since I've used PA facilities, but I'm getting the discount on the Throgs Neck, Whitstone, Tappan Zee, and the Garden State Pkwy.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(larkinmj @ May 3 2006, 09:35 PM) [snapback]249443[/snapback]</div>

After reading the reports here about it not working on non-Thruway tolls, I called ezpass twice to ask about this and both times was reassured that while the discount didn't apply, the transponder would register anywhere on the ezpass system.

We received our green ezpass in the mail last week and on a drive from New York to Deleware (NJ Garden State Parkway and something-or-other in Deleware) this weekend, it registered just fine, even in the high speed toll lanes. Ironically, the Tappan Zee toll from the return trip hasn't shown up on my account yet, but I got the "green light" when I went through the toll, so I assume it registered there as well. Since it hasn't shown up, I also can't verify the discount.

Since I now have two passes (one white, one green) for one car, I called and asked if I should send the second one back. The ezpass rep put me on hold for a while and returned to say that yes, I could send the white one back if I wanted to. There was no material that came with the green pass with instructions on how to send it back, addresses, or anything. It's obviously not the best planned roll-out.

 

There are four separate agencies that administer their EZPass program through the New York EZPass Service Center: the New York State Thruway Authority, the New York State Bridge Authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, and the Port Authority of NY & NJ. When you open an account online at the New York EZPass Service Center they send you a transponder from one of the four agencies based on your address. If your address is anywhere outside of New York State, you will receive a PANYNJ transponder (which carries that lovely little $1.00 monthly account fee). When you first opened your EZPass account, either you didn't live in New York State, or it was before the creation of the New York Service Center, and you ordered your transponder directly from PANYNJ.

There is a sure-fire way to get a Thruway EZPass account. First, close your current PANYNJ EZPass account and mail the transponder back. Second, pick up a new transponder at a retailer that participates in the Thruway's EZPass On The Go Program and activate the new transponder on the internet (this will be a plain white transponder, but don't worry). Third, once you have activated the new transponder, call customer service and ask them to send you a new Green Transponder.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ScottY @ May 4 2006, 09:35 AM) [snapback]249670[/snapback]</div>

 

Jim, you probably ordered your transponder directly from the Thruway Authority before the creation of the New York Service Center. As a resident of Long Island, if you were to open a New York E-ZPass account on the internet today, you would receive a transponder from MTA Bridges and Tunnels.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Jim1eye @ May 17 2006, 03:30 PM) [snapback]257116[/snapback]</div>

 

I have been using my Green Pass for about a year and just analyzed my statments.

I am paying with the following toll fee and does not seem to be getting the 10% discount:

Holland Tunnel (HT) - $4.00 off-peak / $5.00 peak
George Washington Bridge (GWL/GWU) - $4.00 off-peak / $5.00 peak
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (BWB) - $4.00
Queens Mid-town Tunnel (QMT) - $4.00
Lincoln Tunnel (LT) - $4.00

Anyone getting charged differently?

The good thing about the Green Pass is that the off-peak toll will remain at $4 with the upcoming Port Authority March 2nd 2008 toll hike!

http://panynj.gov/budget_cap_plan/pdf/tollfaq.pdf