Did you know that during the morning rush hour period, less than 2 percent of the vehicles that use the I-85 express lanes are transit vehicles, but they account for approximately 26 percent of the people that are moved through the HOT lanes during weekday mornings?
That statistic provides a glimpse into the impact increased transit use can have in a congested commuting corridor. The good news is, there is more room for improvement. On most Georgia Regional Transportation Authority Xpress and Gwinnett County Transit buses, there are comfortable coach-style seats available — just waiting to be filled and cars to be taken off the road.
That is why we have launched an innovative “Ride Transit-Earn Toll Credits” pilot program. Peach Pass customers that try transit on the I-85 Express Lanes can earn up to $60 in toll credits over a six-month period. This pilot is a partnership between the operators of the I-85 Express Lanes — the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) — and transit operators in the I-85 corridor — the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and Gwinnett County Transit.
You may ask, “Why toll credits?” It’s our way of saying thank you for choosing a commute alternative that helps reduce congestion for everyone. The message is not, “Stop using your Peach Pass.” Rather, the message is that the express lanes are there for when you need them most, and the credits are a “pay it forward” contribution for when you need to be a toll-paying user of the lanes.
The Ride Transit-Earn Toll Credits pilot project is one of three new pilot programs initiated by SRTA and GRTA to examine ways to offset the rising cost of tolls driven by continued high usage of the I-85 express lanes. Peach Pass customers who would like to participate in the pilot program can register at www.PeachPass.com by April 30.
For the program, there are 8 eligible transit routes along the I-85 Express Lanes corridor:
Eligible GRTA Xpress routes:
410 Sugarloaf Mills to Lindbergh MARTA Station
411 Hamilton Mill/Mall of Georgia to Midtown
412 Sugarloaf Mills to Midtown
413 Hamilton Mill to downtown Atlanta
416 Dacula to Downtown Atlanta
Eligible Gwinnett County Transit routes:
GCT 101 I-985/SR 20 P&R to downtown Atlanta
GCT 102 I-85 Indian Trail Park and Ride to downtown Atlanta
GCT 103 I-85/Sugarloaf Mills P&R to downtown Atlanta (Zone 2)
In addition to this new transit pilot, SRTA has also reached out to a small group of frequent rush-hour, I-85 express lanes users and offered toll credits for teleworking or otherwise shifting their commute earlier or later in the peak period. Later this spring, SRTA will launch a partnership with Georgia Commute Options to provide additional incentives to carpoolers in the I-85 corridor. All these pilots are geared to finding innovative ways to address Metro Atlanta congestion by leveraging tolling, transit, telecommuting and technology.
Peach Pass and Xpress are focused on addressing mobility issues and giving commuters more choices. Now, you can earn toll credits on your Peach Pass personal toll account just for trying an alternative commute option such as Xpress – and at the same time save money, reduce stress and let someone else do the driving.
We all have a comfort zone, whether it’s an activity, a habit, a routine or even a daily commute. I challenge our Peach Pass customers that drive in the I-85 express lanes by themselves to get out of their comfort zone and give transit a shot. By simply trying transit, you can have a less-stressful commute, catch up on some reading, texting or emails and earn money before you walk in the door at work. Now, isn’t that worth a try?
