ROAD TRIP!
I was invited to go to CT this weekend with a friend. I convinced him to drive there instead of fly. Thus saving myself a boatload of money. We’re leaving early from DC to skip NYC traffic over the GW.
But the really cool thing is that my VA SmartTag/EZ-PASS/SmartPass thingamajig for the tolls is no longer limited to one car assignment. I double checked the website this week and all we have to do is take it with us. No extra pass needed for my friend’s car. I can even pick up extra mounting strips from their office in Northern VA. (But I am too lazy to do so. I can hold the pass up while he drives.)
WOO HOO!
If you don’t have a smart tag, you might want to think about getting one. I had to get one because I work off the Dulles Toll Road and it makes my daily commute faster. However, when I was going to Philly every week last year, it made a huge difference on I-95, and in some places, there is a discounted toll for using electronic payment.
I used to be all paranoid about Big Brother and the government tracking my movement and figuring out that I was speeding on the highway, but for the 3 tolls I pay every day to go to work, it’s completely worth it. Plus my paranoid security friends tell me this is the least of my worries in terms of government surveillance.
So this is the last post of the week. Happy Friday!
Ervin wrote:
You might want to use the Tappan Zee bridge, instead of GWB, thus bypassing NYC altogether. All you have to do is map your route to Nyack, NY first, and from there to CT.
Posted on 20-Apr-07 at 10:14 pm | Permalink
Debt Hater wrote:
I hope you have/had a great time! But I think it depends on how often you make that trip as to whether to get a Smart tag. If it’s a rare trip, why bother?
Posted on 22-Apr-07 at 7:50 pm | Permalink
mapgirl wrote:
DH, that is precisely the point. I use mine daily on my commute, but my friend doesn’t. But we can go get extra mounting strips and use my tag on his car and he doesn’t have to get one.
Ervin, we skipped the Tappan Zee because the host specifically said not to use it, and it’s a longer route anyway.
Posted on 23-Apr-07 at 9:02 am | Permalink
Ervin wrote:
mapgirl,
I am glad you had a good time in beautiful CT. And also that you didn’t get to “enjoy” GWB in rush hour; it can take 2+ hours to pass over that stupid bridge and Cross Bronx Expressway. I usually find that the extra 30 minutes through NJ are well worth it; I admit I hate driving around NYC. Anyway…
The EZ-Pass tag is worth every penny. I used to live in PA and had to pay $1/month for the tag, while using it only a few times a year. But it’s well worth it on the East Coast, even for non-commuters, especially nowadays when you can pay even parking at airports with it. It’s a great solution. I don’t understand why D.C. didn’t adopt it for parking fees, using their proprietary system instead.
Posted on 24-Apr-07 at 10:56 pm | Permalink