Free Turnpike Transponders to be Handed Out at Pittsfield Farmers Market
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Jessica Vecchia of the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market have collaborated to bring the Massachusetts Department of Transportation’s E-ZPass Van to the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market, on The Common on First Street, on Saturday, Aug. 6, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. to distriubute free transponders for the Massachusetts Turnpike.
MassDOT is currently in the process of transitioning to All Electronic Tolling (AET) for I-90, both directions. MassDOT intends to test AET software during the summer of 2016 and to activate AET by the end of the year. A previously scheduled "go live" date in the month of October will occur if software testing goes as planned before September.
To help local constituents sign-up for the free transponders, Farley-Bouvier contacted the Downtown Pittsfield Farmers Market and MassDOT with the idea to have the EZ Pass van at the market. A couple years ago the same initiative occurred and the response was overwhelming. As a result, this year MassDOT decided to bring two vans on Aug. 6.
AET gantries, placed over the road and equipped with sensors, will electronically register tolls from vehicles that pass under any gantry. Drivers will no longer have to stop at a toll plaza and will be able to maintain a safe highway speed.
If a vehicle has an E-ZPass transponder, the toll is automatically charged to the customer’s E-ZPass account that the transponder is registered to.
If a vehicle does not have an E-ZPass transponder, cameras mounted on the gantry will capture a photograph of the vehicle’s license plate and the registered owner of the vehicle will be sent an invoice. Pay-by-Plate users will pay a surcharge. EZ-Pass users pay the normal toll.
Drivers who currently have no E-ZPass transponder are encouraged to obtain one. Applicants must bring vehicle registration, $20 to open an E-Z Pass account, and photo identification to obtain a transponder. The transponders are issued free and the $20 account will be used to pay charges for Massachusetts Turnpike travel.
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