Gov. Deal Lowers HOT Lane Rate

Governor Nathan Deal announced Thursday, Oct. 6, that he will lower the rates for the toll in the .

The High Occupancy Toll Lane opened Saturday, Oct. 1, and there have been many complaints from drivers.

Deal also said the state will work on access points. There is currently a six mile span between the Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road start point and Beaver Ruin where there is no access to the express lane.

Here is Gov. Deal's statement in a release about the changes: 

“Looking at what we’ve learned from our first four work days with the HOT lanes, I’ve asked SRTA to improve utilization of the express lanes. In the short term, the toll rate will lower – starting with Thursday afternoon’s commute – but the effective rate will continue to change to regulate speed and volume.

“Even before the lanes opened, we knew we needed to improve the access and exit points in the southbound direction. SRTA and the Georgia Department of Transportation are working together and I’ve directed them to prioritize this action.

“Lastly, I-85 has long required two passengers for the express lanes. Federal regulations in effect with the HOT lanes increased the requirement to three passengers. I will pursue a federal waiver to move the requirement back to two.

“All of these actions are intended to increase the volume in the express lanes while maintaining its steady pace, relieve congestion in the all-access lanes, and encourage carpooling and use of the Peach Pass.

“As governor, I’m committed to finding transportation solutions that help Georgians get to work and back home to their families. I will continue to monitor the situation as drivers become more accustomed to this new system.”