NEWS

Tolled bridges see 81,000 drivers per day this week

Sheldon S. Shafer

@sheldonshafer

An average of more than 81,000 vehicles crossed the three tolled bridges on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday of this week, and just over 50 percent of those vehicles had transponders that were mounted and read by bridge cameras, RiverLink officials reported Friday.

The RiverLink transponder cameras are set up above I-65 near the Kennedy Bridge in Jeffersonville. Personal vehicles with a transponder will pay $2 to cross; those without being registered will pay $4. Two axle vehicles taller than 7-1/2 feet will pay $5 to cross with a transponder.

Tolling started Dec. 30 on three Ohio River bridges connecting Louisville and Southern Indiana – the new Lewis and Clark Bridge, the new I-65 Abraham Lincoln Bridge, and the improved I-65 Kennedy Bridge.

Nearly 185,000 RiverLink transponders have been requested to date, including more than 150,000 RiverLink local transponders and nearly 35,000 RiverLink E-ZPass transponders. Incredibly high demand has temporarily depleted supplies of RiverLink local transponders for passenger vehicles.

The supply of RiverLink local transponders at RiverLink customer service centers is limited and will likely be exhausted next week, officials said. The inventory to fulfill online and phone orders has been depleted. Additional supplies have been ordered and should be available in the next several weeks, officials said.

This past Thursday, with bad weather prevailing, had the lowest number of total crossings of the three days – but still almost 75,000 crossings were recorded. And Thursday had the highest use of transponders, with 55 percent of drivers using transponders on that day.

“More than 80,000 drivers have been traveling the three tolled bridges on a daily basis, enjoying a faster and safer commute,” said Clint Murphy, director of tolling oversight for the Indiana Department of Transportation. “It’s encouraging to already see more than 50 percent of drivers with transponders in their vehicles during the opening days of tolling, and to see that number climbing each day.”

►RELATED: Lewis and Clark Bridge by the numbers

The number of drivers with transponders is expected to continue to increase as more accounts are opened and transponder orders are fulfilled. Drivers with transponders pay the lowest toll rates. All E-ZPass transponders work with the RiverLink system. No further action is necessary.

Drivers without transponders will get bills in the mail, and pay higher toll rates. Drivers who do not pay their tolls will be charged additional fees and may face restrictions on vehicle registration until tolls and penalties are paid.

“All drivers who have opened prepaid RiverLink accounts will pay the lowest rates while waiting for transponders to arrive,” said Megan McLain, tolling project manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “For these drivers only, the requirement that transponders be properly mounted in passenger vehicles to receive the frequent-user discount is being temporarily waived.”

The new Lewis and Clark Bridge opened on Sunday.
December 19, 2016

A RiverLink local transponder is free, one per registered vehicle. The small sticker adheres to the inside of windshield, is non-transferable and works only on tolled bridges between Louisville and Southern Indiana.

River Link E-ZPass transponders remain in stock. They are $15 per transponder, are mounted on the inside of the windshield, are portable from vehicle to vehicle registered to a single account, and work in all 16 E-ZPass states.

Drivers should allow several days for their trips over tolled bridges and transactions to post. Drivers with RiverLink transponders mounted in their vehicles will typically see toll activity post to their accounts within 24 to 48 hours. If the transaction is being reviewed, it may take several days to post.

It will take several days for drivers waiting for transponders to arrive to see their trips post on their account. License plates are scanned and matched to prepaid accounts.

Trips with E-ZPass transponders from other states typically post within a few days, but can take several weeks to post.

High demand has led to lengthy hold times for drivers calling RiverLink (855-RIV-LINK). A new callback feature launched this week. Drivers who spend five minutes on hold have the option of leaving a preferred callback number, and will not lose their place in line. The next available customer service representative will return their call.

Toll rates range from $2-$12, depending on the size of vehicle and whether the driver has a prepaid RiverLink account and transponder.

Drivers can open a RiverLink account online at www.RiverLink.com, by phone at 855-RIV-LINK or in person at one of two RiverLink customer service centers.

Customer service centers are located at 400 E. Main St. in Louisville and 103 Quartermaster Court. in Jeffersonville, Ind.

Reporter Sheldon S. Shafer can be reached at (502) 582-7089, or via email at sshafer@courier-journal.com.

► ON THE GO? Download the CJ app for iPhone, Android and iPad