OFFICIAL STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                       Contact: Bambi Hall
May 6, 2013                                                                                                                                504-484-0210

Official Statement regarding May 4^th toll vote

New Orleans, LA – As a result of the May 4 toll vote, the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (DOTD) announces the following information pertaining to toll tag refunds and interim traffic plans.

GeauxPass toll tag account holders may close their accounts and, if applicable, be refunded any remaining toll deposit balance.  Customers must return the actual toll tag (transponder) in order to qualify for a deposit refund. Customers with the newly issued toll tag stickers do not have to return them.

To close an account, customers must do the following.

·         Provide a valid driver’s license

·         Complete a standard closure form

·         Complete a W-9 (Used to validate payee information for auditing purposes and required by law, and the IRS as proof that refund owed and paid to correct individual)

·         Provide statement  requesting to close account

·         Be prepared to wait if requesting a check the same day

·         Or, opt to return later for check pick up or have check mailed

Checks can be cut once all documents are submitted and information verified. Customers should be prepared to wait approximately one hour for processing, if requesting a check the same day.  Customers may also opt to arrange for a later pick up or have their refund check mailed.  We encourage customers to request forms via our customer services center or download them from http://www.dotd.la.gov/operations/cccd/requestrefund.aspx .  Filled-in documents can be emailed to Customer Service at customerservice@geauxpass.com and checks can be mailed to verified address or made available for pick-up.

In the interim, DOTD will monitor traffic patterns on the bridge and adjust as needed.  Motorists should be aware that they should maintain at speed of no more than 25 MPH when travelling through the toll plaza. Implementation of a final non-toll plaza traffic configuration is under development.

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