GREENFIELD — Need an E-ZPass transponder?
The E-ZPass Van will be making a stop this Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Greenfield Farmer’s Market from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m., according to state Rep. Paul Mark.
Those present will be able to obtain free E-ZPass transponders in time for the state’s transition to all-electronic tolling on both directions of the Massachusetts Turnpike (Interstate 90). This takes place today as manual toll taking is scheduled to end at 9:45 p.m. and the electronic toll gantries will go online at 10.
Tolls will either be paid via a driver’s transponder account or, if a person isn’t using a transponder, a photo of their license plate will be taken as they pass under the gantries along the Pike. Then a bill, with a surcharge, will be sent to the address that is linked to the license plate.
Once the electronic tolling system is implemented, vehicles that do not have a transponder will be billed using the Pay-By-Plate system that will charge users an additional processing fee to offset mailing and other costs.
Vehicles that are equipped with E-ZPass transponders will have their tolls automatically charged to an E-ZPass account associated with their vehicles. E-ZPass accounts can then be easily managed online or in-person at any of six E-ZPass MA Customer Service Centers located in Auburn, East Boston, Natick, Saugus, Boston, Lee and Ludlow.
The E-ZPass Van and the MassDOT (Department of Transportation) representatives will be on hand Saturday in Greenfield to answer additional questions regarding the new system while supplying free transponders.
Although the transponders are free, $20 is needed to open an E-ZPass account; it is payable by check and credit/debit cards.
Also, more transponder information is available online at: /www.massdot.state.ma.us