Motorcyclists Can Use US 36 Express Lanes for Free, Need Account and Sticker Tag

June 25, 2015 - Metro Denver Colorado/CDOT Region 1 - DENVER –The Colorado Department of Transportation’s US 36 Express Lanes Phase 1 are currently open for testing, from Federal Boulevard to 88th Street in Louisville/Superior, with toll collection being waived until Wednesday, July 22, for all vehicles.

When toll collection commences, all drivers, including motorcyclists and carpoolers, must have an ExpressToll account and pass to use the lanes for free.

“The existing motorcycle tags used on E-470 and the Northwest Parkway will work on all US 36 and I-25 Express Lanes, but if you don’t have an existing tag, you will need to create an account and order a sticker tag to ride for free in the Express Lanes,” said CDOT Communications Director Amy Ford. “We are excited that the US 36 Express Lanes offer an HOV option and want to make sure our motorcyclists take advantage of the transportation choices available to them on this corridor.”

CDOT and the High Performance Transportation Enterprise (HPTE) are working with their partners to remind motorcyclists that if an Express Lane offers free HOV/carpool, like US 36 and the I-25 Express Lanes, then motorcycles can also use the lane for free. In order to do so, drivers will need to create an ExpressToll account and get a sticker tag that will identify them as a motorcyclist and not charge a toll. Motorcycles with a tag can use the lanes for free no matter how many people are on the vehicle.

Motorcyclists without an ExpressToll account can create an account online at Expresstoll.com. If your household already has an ExpressToll account you can simply add your motorcycle to the account information without any additional deposit. New accounts require an opening account balance of $35.

Once an account is set up, account holders will receive a sticker tag in the mail. Once installed, motorcyclists can begin using the HOV Express Lanes for free. The sticker tag will need to be installed horizontally on the motorcycle headlamp, one inch from the bottom. The required $35 opening balance can also be used for tolls on highways that do not offer an HOV option, including E-470 and the Northwest Parkway.

The US 36 Express Lanes Project is a multi-modal project that is building an express lane in each direction on US 36, in addition to the two free general purpose lanes. The Express Lanes will accommodate High Occupancy Vehicles (HOV), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and tolled vehicles. In addition, the project is replacing several bridges, building a commuter bikeway, adding BRT improvements, and installing Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) for tolling, transit and traveler information, and incident management.  Phase 1, from Federal Boulevard to 88th Street in Louisville/Superior, will open to the public this summer. Phase 2, from 88th Street to Table Mesa Drive in Boulder, will open in 2016.

For more information about the project, please visit www.codot.gov or our mobile website at m.us36expresslanes.com. To receive free email updates during the project, click on the cell phone icon in the upper right corner. You can then subscribe to a variety of lists including “US 36 Express Lanes Project.”