Category Archives: Toll Lanes

The FasTrak experiment continues…

FasTrak is an interesting thing in California. Instead of one unified system, it is broken up into many different agencies with different rules and transponders. Recently, I posted about the research I had done into Southern California agencies and their requirements. One I hadn’t really looked into, the San Francisco Bay Area, seems to have different rules than most of the agencies down here.

So, I decided to see if I could use a “FasTrak Flex” transponder in lieu of my 91 Express Lanes transponder for vehicles other than my motorcycles, such as my husbands vehicle, and still get the discounted tolls and free travel on the lanes that require the transponder. I should see very soon if I can and if there is any sort of extra cost for having this new account. If it works out, I will cancel my existing account with the 91 Express Lanes and keep the SF Bay area account.

FasTrak and Express Lane Information

After having done a fair amount of research into how roads in Southern California are tolled and how each agency handles the tolling itself, I decided it was time to add another page to the site. Seeing as how each agency uses FasTrak in a different way and that there are, at least for now, five different agencies, each with their own transponder, in the region, it was time to help clarify some things. Please use the link below to access the new page. I hope the new page helps explain the confusion that is FasTrak.

FasTrak and Express Lanes

91 Express Lanes

I found out recently that the 91 Express Lanes, the toll lanes in the median of the 91 Freeway from the 55 to the Riverside County Line are free for motorcyclists. Now, as I love to travel all roads that are available to me, I ended up signing up for a transponder. It has offered me an interesting look at what goes into getting one and how they work. I shall be posting photos and videos about how these devices work in the near future.

In addition to the transponder, I also obtained a special bag to put the device in when I travel toll lanes that are free and don’t need a transponder. Eventually, I hope that all lanes are the same and won’t need such devices.

91 Express Lanes Welcome Kit and Transponder.
91 Express Lanes Welcome Kit and Transponder.