MnPASS Express Lanes Open Monday On I-35E In St. Paul
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – The days of traveling in the Interstate 35-E MnPASS lanes for free come to an end Monday.
Starting Monday morning, drivers traveling alone in the express lanes between St. Paul and Little Canada will have to pay a fee during peak hours.
The MnPASS Express Lanes give drivers a congestion-free option during the busiest times of the day. Those times are between 6 – 10 a.m. and 3 – 7 p.m.
The new stretch of I-35E where the fees go into effect Monday is between Cayuga Street in St. Paul and Little Canada Road in Little Canada.
Drivers who are alone and have a MnPASS account, and a MnPASS Express Lane Tag attached to the windshield, can drive in the HOV lanes for a fee. That fee will range from $0.25 to $8.
The price to drive in those lanes will be posted on overhead signs and will vary depending on how many vehicles are traveling in the lane; the more vehicles the higher the price.
Vehicles with two or more people in them, motorcycles and buses may drive in the lanes at any time for free. Outside of the posted peak times, the lanes are free for all drivers.
The MnPASS lanes of I-35-E north of I-694 are expected to be open by the end of 2016.
MnPASS stickers also work for HOV lanes on I-394 west of downtown Minneapolis and I-35W south of downtown Minneapolis.
There are a few different options for MnPASS. Drivers can opt to get a sticker for free, which won't be able to move between cars, or they can get a switchable tag that can be moved between cars. The switchable tag cost $15.
To enroll in MnPASS, visit the Department of Transportation office in Golden Valley in person or go online.