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| Providing Satisfaction to SunPass Customers |
Since it opened in 1957, Florida's Turnpike has continued to focus on the customers who travel on our system of roadways. To help maintain a focus on meeting the needs of our valued customers, Florida's Turnpike conducts an annual satisfaction survey of SunPass customers each fall. Highlights from the 2007 survey show that:
- 96% are satisfied with the SunPass program
- 96% would recommend using Florida's Turnpike system to family and friends
- 92% feel they receive value in the form of safety, service and convenience
Florida's Turnpike recognizes that superior customer service requires innovative ideas, frequent measurement and continuous improvement. Recent enhancements to impact customer service include:
- Increased number of open road tolling facilities: To keep customers moving quickly and efficiently, Florida's Turnpike accelerated the conversion of its existing toll plazas (Lantana, Cypress Creek, Bird Road and Homestead) to SunPass-only express lanes. SunPass customers can now pay tolls while driving at highway speeds at these toll plazas, and all customers can experience an overall improvement in traffic flow.
- Improvements to roads: To help ease congestion in highly traveled areas, Florida's Turnpike has added lanes to widen its roadways throughout the state. Florida's Turnpike upholds our dedication to meet transportation needs, and keep Florida's growing population moving forward.
- Commitment to the environment: By "going green," Florida's Turnpike demonstrates its commitment to our environment, our community and most importantly, our customers. Florida's Turnpike recently began selling an environmentally friendly fuel alternative, E85, at select service plaza gas stations.
Florida's Turnpike values our customers and wants to know what you think. Be sure to take the 2008 Annual Customer Satisfaction Survey and be entered in a drawing to win $500 in FREE TOLLS! |
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| 95 Express Update |
| 95 Express offers more choices. |
SunPass customers will soon be able to choose 95 Express to help minimize the daily traffic congestion on I-95 in Miami-Dade County. Opening this year, the first phase of the new facility will provide two northbound express lanes from SR 112/I-195 to just north of 151st Street near the Golden Glades Interchange.
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| Free options! |
| Registered 3+ passenger carpools, registered hybrid vehicles and registered South Florida van pools will be able to use 95 Express FREE by meeting certain requirements. All 3+ carpools, vanpools and hybrid vehicles must register with South Florida Commuter Services. For details and requirements on how to register your vehicle to travel free in the 95 Express Lanes click here. Motorcycles can use 95 Express free without registering. |
| Tolls vary. |
| For users not registered with South Florida Commuter Services, tolls will be based on congestion pricing and will be collected electronically via your SunPass transponder. The toll will vary during the day using the toll rate to manage traffic flow to target a minimum speed of 45 MPH. When traffic is more congested, the toll rate will be higher, while the rate will decrease when traffic is less congested. The toll will usually cost between $.25 and $2.65 from downtown Miami to the Golden Glades Interchange, although it may go as high as $6.20 in unusual circumstances or extreme conditions. |
| More 95 Express to come. |
| 95 Express will open in phases. Phase 1A northbound between I-195 and the Golden Glades, will open first. Phase 1B is under construction and expected to open in the fall of 2009 on the southbound lanes between Golden Glades and I-395, and on the northbound lanes between I-395 and I-195. Phase 2 from Golden Glades to Broward Boulevard is expected to open in 2010-11. |
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| To learn more about 95 Express go to 95Express.com. |
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| Making Sense of SunPass Sounds |
If you are an owner of a SunPass Portable (hard case) transponder, you know that a series of beeps emit when traveling through a toll plaza. These beeps let you know that your transponder has been read and your account has been charged. To see what the different beeps mean click here. The new SunPass Mini does not have a battery and therefore is silent as you travel through the toll plaza. Behind the scenes, it does not matter whether you hear the beep or not. As long as your SunPass account balance is positive, and your vehicle and license plate information is current on your SunPass account, SunPass can bill you automatically. Regardless of which transponder you own, you can travel worry-free when you have an
up-to-date SunPass account.
In order to keep your SunPass account information correct and up-to-date, make sure your license plate, credit card information, home address and email address are all current. To help ensure your account has funds available, you can enroll in the EasyPay program for automatic replenishment.
Additionally, make sure your transponder is mounted correctly for best SunPass performance. For the portable (hard case) transponders, remember to mount it on your windshield using the suction cup holders or Velcro tape provided when you purchased the SunPass transponder. For SunPass Mini transponders, remember they must be permanently mounted on your glass windshield in order to function.
In the highly unlikely event that your SunPass transponder does not read correctly, SunPass will match the license plate on your car to the license plate on your account and bill you for payment. If your contact or vehicle information is not correct, SunPass will not be able to bill your account and you may receive an Unpaid Toll Notice in the mail.
Prevent this from happening by keeping your SunPass account up-to-date. You can access your account by going to www.SunPass.com. From the homepage, click on 'Log in to your account' and then modify your transponder or account settings. You can also call
1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352). |
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| Hurricane Evacuations and Toll Suspensions |
Have you ever wondered what is behind the decision to suspend tolls?
Usually, tolls are lifted in conjunction with evacuation orders in anticipation of a storm making landfall in a specific geographic region of the state.
For example: A storm threatening the Florida Keys could trigger the suspension of tolls northbound on the Homestead Extension of Florida's Turnpike in Miami. Likewise, a storm threatening Broward County might trigger a northbound suspension on the Turnpike between the Golden Glades toll plaza on the Miami-Dade and Broward County line to the Three Lakes toll plaza, south of Orlando.
It is important to note that such suspensions are not ordered as a courtesy, but rather as a matter of public safety and as a means to facilitate a smooth flow of traffic during larger than normal traffic volumes. A toll suspension during a hurricane evacuation serves another purpose as well. It allows toll collectors to seek safe shelter for themselves as well as their families.
You should not wait for tolls to be lifted before making the decision to evacuate. By leaving early, you may have to pay a toll, but it could be money well spent to avoid delays associated with an evacuation order.
The Secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation, or the Secretary's designee, may suspend the payment of tolls on a toll facility when necessary to assist in emergency evacuation. The failure to pay a prescribed toll constitutes a noncriminal traffic infraction, punishable as a moving violation persuant to Florida Statute 318.18. |
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