Leeville, La. – The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) will offer a new in-lane service option or cash and charge lane for motorists at the La. 1 toll road in Leeville, Lafourche Parish. Slated for installation this summer, in-lane toll payment machines will greet drivers wishing to cross the La. 1 Bridge, in Leeville, to go south to Port Fourchon and Grand Isle.

The in-lane payment machines will enhance driver convenience by offering multiple payment solutions for non-GeauxPass or non-toll tag customers. The new machines will have the capability to accept all forms of payment – coins, cash (exact change is not necessary), credit cards, and debit cards – giving customers the ability to pay the toll in a way that is most suitable to them. Current GeauxPass or toll tag account holders may continue paying tolls using their online accounts or stopping by the Golden Meadow Customer Service Center.

“We are pleased to offer the new enhanced in-lane payment feature at our La. 1 toll facility, allowing quick pay on the expressway,” said DOTD Assistant Secretary Rhett Desselle. “This will make travel more convenient for motorists commuting to Port Fourchon and the many visitors that flock to Grand Isle for annual events and vacation.”

The machines will eliminate the need for motorists to exit their vehicles to pay their toll. They will be accessed from the right lane of La. 1 and will offer two heights via stacked or dual payment input fronts to accommodate various vehicles, from a subcompact car to a semi-truck. Additionally, a canopy will be installed to protect motorists from adverse weather conditions. DOTD expects to add a second machine in approximately six months for redundancy should one machine experience technical difficulties.

The in-lane payment machine will not affect how GeauxPass customers cross the La. 1 Bridge.  GeauxPass customers may continue to utilize both the left and right lanes. However, the left lane will remain a dedicated GeauxPass lane, allowing tag users to drive through the facility uninterrupted.  GeauxPass account holders may continue to manage their accounts online or stopping by the Golden Meadow Customer Service Center.  Customers who wish to purchase a GeauxPass may do so online at http://www.geauxpass.com/ or in person at either the Golden Meadow Customer Service Center or the Crescent City Connection Division.

The current pre-pay and post-pay kiosks, located in local businesses and inside the Golden Meadow Customer Service Center, will be removed once the new cash and charge lane option is in-service.

Transactions will require the following four steps:

 ·          Drivers will select the type of vehicle they are driving according to the toll schedule. The appropriate toll will be displayed on the video screen.

·          Drivers will choose method of payment: coins, bills, or credit/ debit card.

·          Drivers will then pay. If driver pays with coins or bill(s), any change will be dispensed to the color-coded coin slot(s).

·          A receipt will be printed upon request.

Non-GeauxPass customers will need to provide accurate vehicle class information when selecting the type of vehicle they are driving and pay the applicable amount. A lighted signal will alert motorists (green, yellow and red) if payment was received or for GeauxPass users if balance can cover toll amount. There will no longer be a “post-pay” or grace period payment option. Failure to pay the proper toll before use will result in a violation. 

Paying the toll isn’t optional. The state of Louisiana actively pursues violators both within and outside the state.  Misclassification of any vehicle or underpaying any toll will result in a violation of the system, and the violator will be subject to the appropriate toll fee as well as any additional applicable service fee(s). Drivers wishing to dispute a toll violation notice may do so via the GeauxPass customer service email address customerservice@geauxpass.com or contact customer service via phone at 1-866-662-8987.

All southbound loads wider 13 feet will be permitted through DOTD’s truck permits section to pass around the median barrier, on the northbound side with a state police escort.

The in-lane payment machine may also be called an Automatic Toll Payment Machine (ATPM).

The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) is committed to delivering transportation and public works systems that enhance the quality of life. In addition to more than 16,600 miles of roadway, including over 890 miles of interstate, DOTD supports the development of the state’s aviation, marine and rail infrastructures. Through this work, we are able to facilitate economic development, create job opportunities, improve vital evacuation routes, and make critical freight corridors safer and more efficient.

For more information, please visit www.dotd.la.gov, email dotdcs@la.gov, or call DOTD’s Customer Service Center at (225) 379-1232 or 1-877-4LADOTD (1-877-452-3683). Business hours are 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Motorists can access up-to-date travel information by dialing 511 or by visiting www.511la.org. Out of-state travelers can call 1-888-ROAD-511 (1-888-762-3511).

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www.dotd.la.gov