(ORLANDO, FL) In anticipation of work on the I-4 Ultimate project, the Central Florida Expressway Authority Board today approved measures designed to provide relief to commuters looking for alternatives to Interstate-4 during the estimated six years of construction.
“We know that many commuters need their cars for their job every day,” said Welton Cadwell, CFX chairman. “This program will hopefully help save time and money for people looking for an alternative to Interstate-4 while it’s under construction.”
The program will provide discounts to E-PASS customers who use the beltway (State Road 414, State Road 417 and State Road 429) as an alternate to Interstate-4. Drivers who pay twenty or more tolls in a month will receive a 5% discount on the portions of the beltway operated by CFX. The discounts will go into effect July 1, 2015 and will be in addition to the already existing volume discounts E-PASS customers receive. The discount will pay for approximately one day of tolls for a typical driver who pays twenty tolls per week.
An additional aspect of the program will make it easier for residents to obtain the already free E-PASS transponder. The minimum amount of pre-paid tolls required to open an E-PASS will be reduced to $15, from $25. Each additional vehicle will only require a $10 deposit, down from $25. E-PASS is free for residents of Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Polk, Seminole and Volusia counties.
Last year, E-PASS volume discounts cost CFX nearly $12 million. The additional discount is estimated to cost nearly $4 million.