Fast Lane
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fast Lane is the RFID electronic toll collection system used in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, USA. Fast Lane is used on the Massachusetts Turnpike (which also operates the Sumner Tunnel and Ted Williams Tunnel) and on the Massachusetts Port Authority operated Tobin Bridge. It is also accepted at one parking structure operated by the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. Fast Lane is fully interoperable with the many E-ZPass facilities in other states, however, since mid-2002, FastLane users receive a discount on some tolls that E-ZPass users do not enjoy.
[edit] History
The original electronic toll collection system in Massachusetts was called MassPass and was installed at the Ted Williams Tunnel. This system was scrapped and replaced by the current E-ZPass-compatible system in 1998 for the Ted Williams Tunnel and the Massachusetts Turnpike Boston extension and extended to the rest of the turnpike in 1999.
When the system was first introduced, AAA gave out to its Western Massachusetts members an orange Fast Lane pass. This pass could be used from exits 1 to 6 without toll because these exits do not currently charge tolls. The orange passes are still used today.
[edit] Sponsors
Today (2005), the system is sponsored by Citizens Bank for the Massachusetts Turnpike and by TD Banknorth for the Massachusetts Port Authority. [1] Along the Turnpike it is branded the Citizens Bank Fast Lane, whereas at the Tobin Bridge it is branded TD Banknorth Fastlane. Before Citizens Bank, Fleet Bank used to sponsor the Fast Lane system and was the founding financial institution of the local system along with the Massachusetts Turnpike.
