HOT lanes on Interstate 25 brought in $42,000 during their first month, a little more than expected, but Colorado tolling officials say gaps in enforcement mean the state may be losing some toll revenue.
The Colorado Tolling Enterprise plans to meet with State Patrol officials about stepping up police enforcement of the I-25 toll/HOV lanes, especially during the afternoon rush hour, said Peggy Catlin, the group’s acting director.
The toll authority opened the HOT lanes June 2, replacing a two-lane reversible high- occupancy-vehicle operation with one that allows solo drivers to buy their way into the express lanes by paying a toll, while preserving free access for buses and carpoolers.
HOT stands for high-occupancy toll. The barrier-separated lanes run for about 7 miles on I-25 north of Coors Field, with a short dogleg up the Boulder Turnpike to Pecos Street.
The toll authority recorded a high of nearly 1,300 toll transactions on several weekdays late last month.
Tolling is done electronically by equipment near 58th Avenue that reads vehicle transponders. There are no toll booths.
Motorists must be in the east of the two lanes to have tolls read, Catlin said. Conversely, HOV vehicles must be in the west lane at the toll-reading location.
Signs direct travelers to get into the proper lane before the toll-recording spot. State Patrol officers park on a widened shoulder to verify compliance with HOV rules. They issued 59 HOV citations last month, Catlin said.
In addition, 43 motorists were stopped and cited for toll evasion, she said. Solo drivers can get such a citation if they slip into the HOV lane before they get to the toll readers.
“There’s a distinct correlation between officer presence and violations,” Catlin said.
Vehicles that pass through the toll-reading lane without a transponder have photos taken of their license plates and are cited for the violation through the mail.
Knowing that the system would cause confusion early on, toll authority officials gave warnings to violators and even allowed first-time offenders to “cure” their transgression by paying the missed toll and a $7 “administrative fee,” Catlin said.
She added that the toll operation is not slowing service for buses and carpoolers.
In June, about 3,000 buses and carpoolers used the lanes on weekday mornings, and between 4,000 and 5,000 HOV vehicles used them during the afternoon peak.
Buses using the HOV lanes were on time 99.9 percent of the time, Catlin said.
She added: “We’re meeting all our commitments” to the Regional Transportation District.”
Staff writer Jeffrey Leib can be reached at 303-820-1645 or jleib@denverpost.com.
