Federal funds to be used to create toll lanes on 85

ATLANTA - U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters has announced that Georgia will receive a $110 million federal grant to help reduce Atlanta's notorious traffic and improve transit. Included will be the creation of High Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes on I-85 in DeKalb and Gwinnett counties.

Peters, flanked by Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Gena Evans, made the announcement Tuesday morning.

Some of the money will go toward converting existing high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes into high occupancy toll lanes along Interstate 85 between Old Peachtree Road and I-285. The prices for the new toll lanes will vary based on the amount of traffic in the other lanes. When the conversion is made, vehicles with less than three occupants will have to pay to enter an HOV lane.

Some of the money included in the federal grant announced Tuesday will also be used to buy more commuter buses and expand park and ride facilities.

http://accesswdun.com/article/2008/11/215545