New I-66 Express Lanes toll system continues to hit some drivers with high charges
WASHINGTON - A third day of high tolls awaited solo commuters who drove the Express Lanes on Interstate 66 inside the Capital Beltway on Wednesday.
The change caught many drivers in northern Virginia off guard on Monday when some travelers who used that stretch of highway during peak morning hours reported charges of over $30.
RELATED: I-66 Express Lanes: What You Need To Know
The high toll trend continued on Tuesday when FOX 5's Melanie Alnwick reported a $33.50 estimated charge at 7:30 a.m. and Erin Como reported a $40 estimated charge at 8:11 a.m. on stretches of Interstate 66 inside of the Capital Beltway.
On Wednesday, FOX 5's Annie Yu said an estimated toll charge of $19.25 was recorded for a 9 mile inside the Beltway trip on the Virginia Department of Transportation app at 7:30 a.m.
The launch of the Express Lanes allows drivers to use Interstate 66 for free as carpoolers and for a variable toll as solo drivers. The highway remains free for all users outside of rush hour.
The tolls are described by VDOT as dynamic and are based on the volume of traffic and the number of drivers that are willing to pay.
The Express Lanes will be in effect Monday through Friday from 5:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. in the eastbound direction, and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the westbound direction. Outside of these times, the lanes will be free for everyone.
Drivers can check the estimated tolls on I-66 on vai66tolls.com or the 66 Express Lanes app for Apple's App Store and Google Play.