OC's Toll Roads Will Become Cashless On May 14
IRVINE (CBSLA.com) — Drivers who use the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads in Orange County will no longer be able to pay with cash starting next month.
The Transportation Corridor Agencies will remove all cash and coin collection machines from the 51-mile network of roads on May 14.
According to TCA, 81 percent of drivers already pay with FasTrak, a transponder-based electronic collection system.
"Removing cash toll collection is a reflection of our customers' preferences and their lifestyles," Lisa Bartlett, Chairwoman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency and Mayor of Dana Point, said in a statement. "Many people already choose to pay electronically for most of their daily transactions. We want to provide that same convenience to all of our customers, while improving their experience on The Toll Roads with a nonstop, stress-free drive."
Earlier this year, TCA launched a new transponder-free ExpressAccounts program that photographs license plates and links them with users' online accounts. However, the tolls for this option are, on average, 20 percent higher than tolls paid by FasTrak customers.
Drivers who don't frequent the roads can visit the Toll Roads' site or download a mobile app to pay within 48 hours. Those with FasTrack accounts won't be affected by the changes.
