Express Lanes Safety and Toll Enforcement Program

What is an Express Lanes Safety and Toll Enforcement Program?

The Express Lanes Safety and Toll Enforcement Program is managed by the Colorado Transportation Investment Office (CTIO), the government-owned business within CDOT that oversees Colorado’s Express Lanes. The program encourages safe driving on CTIO’s network of Express Lanes by using sophisticated roadside technology to enforce Express Lane rules. Violators identified by this technology will be issued a civil penalty via mail based on the registered address of the vehicle’s license plate. Violations not paid within 20 days of issuance will increase to a $150 civil penalty.

Why was this program created?

The Express Lane rules are in place to keep all motorists safe and to keep traffic flowing along Colorado’s Express Lane corridors as efficiently as possible. Violators who ignore these rules present hazards to themselves and other roadway users. The Safety and Toll Enforcement Program supports CDOT’s Moving Toward Zero Deaths initiative—eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries on Colorado roads.

Violations Currently Being Enforced

While the Safety and Toll Enforcement Program will eventually apply to all Express Lane corridors, current enforcement is in effect on the I-70 Mountain corridor between Idaho Springs and Empire, C-470 between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard, I-25 between US 36 and E-470, I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road, and I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock. 

Enforcement in the I-70 Mountain Corridor, between Idaho Springs and Empire, began on July 21, 2023, and civil penalties are currently in effect. The Mountain Express Lanes are peak period shoulder lanes that relieve congestion during peak periods, such as holidays and weekends. The rest of the time, they operate as typical shoulders to be used only by two-axle vehicles for emergencies and breakdowns.

Enforcement on C-470 between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard and I-25 between US36 and E470 began on Sept.1, 2023, and civil penalties are currently in effect.

Enforcement on I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road and I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock began on 1, 2024, and civil penalties are currently in effect.

Express Lane Rules:

  1. Drivers can only enter and exit the Express Lanes through a dashed line at designated points. Entering or exiting at any other point constitutes a failure to adhere to Express Lane rules and failure to pay a toll.
    1. On some Colorado Express Lane corridors, a dashed line may be paired with a solid white line. In those instances, drivers can only enter the Express Lanes if they are closest to the dashed line. If the solid line is on their side, they need to stay put, or they will receive a fine. 
    2. In some areas, an entrance or exit lane helps vehicles merge in and out of the Express Lanes. Drivers should follow traffic signs and arrows guiding vehicles in and out of the lanes. Entering in an exit-only area or exiting at an entry-only area by crossing over a solid line is considered a violation.
  2. Drivers cannot use the I-70 Mountain Express Lanes outside of operating hours, except in an emergency or as an authorized emergency vehicle.
  3. Due to the narrow nature of the Mountain Express Lanes, no vehicle with more than two axles or exceeding 25 feet in length can travel in these Express Lanes at any time.

Express Lanes Violations Diagram 

Violations on the I-70 Mountain Express Lane include entering/exiting outside authorized access zones, unauthorized vehicles on I-70 Mountain Express Lanes and vehicles using I-70 Mountain Express Lanes outside operating hours. This is due to safety hazards presented when vehicles cross from the general purpose lanes, the narrow 11-foot width of the lanes, and the nature of the lanes being used as emergency shoulders when closed.

Infographic demonstrating the three different types of Express Lane Violations and why the rules are in place (PDF) 

Express Lanes Striping You May Encounter 

Two lanes, dashed and solid lines. Two solid lines give way to either a single dashed or double dashed line. Vehicles can enter or exit through the dashed lines only.               
Graphic of cars driving on a road. One car is between the solid yellow shoulder and a single dashed line. Another car drives between a double solid line and a single dashed line. Text overlay reads: Double solid to single or double dashed.
Similar to striping on mountain roads where you may pass other vehicles, in some areas, a dashed line is adjacent to a solid line. Vehicles may only cross if the dashed line is adjacent to them (on their side). If the solid line is on their side, they need to stay put or they will receive a fine.
Graphic of a car driving alongside a solid line in two images. The placement of the solid line switches between the images. Text overlay reads: One solid and dashed line side-by-side. 
In some areas, an ingress or egress lane helps vehicles merge in and out of the Express Lanes. Vehicles should follow traffic signs and arrows guiding vehicles in and out of the lanes. If the line is solid, drivers must wait for a dashed line to enter or exit the lane. They cannot cross over the line.           
 
Graphic of cars driving on a road. One car is between a solid yellow shoulder and a solid line. Another car enters a right turn lane between one solid line and one dashed line. Text overlay reads: Two lanes, dashed and solid lines. 
  The Mountain Express Lanes have a single, yellow solid line that gives way to a single, yellow dashed line for ingress and egress. Vehicles may enter and exit through the dashed lines only.
Graphic of two cars driving on the road next to one solid yellow road lane stripe that transitions to a dashed stripe. Text overlay on the graphic reads: One solid into one dashed.

Penalty and Payment

Violations on the I-70 Mountain Express Lanes between Idaho Springs and Empire, C-470 between I-25 and Wadsworth Boulevard, I-70 between I-25 and Chambers Road, I-25 between Monument and Castle Rock, and I-25 between US 36 and E470 will result in a $75 civil penalty. Violations not paid within 20 days of issuance will increase to a $150 civil penalty.

There are several ways to pay, including:

  • Online at ExpressLaneSafety.com
  • Make a payment with your notice number using our automated phone system at 1-(800)-343-2633.

SCAM ALERT: Colorado does not collect Express Lanes tolls or fines by text. Any texts requesting the user to pay for Express Lanes tolls or fines is a scam. For more information, go to ExpressLaneSafety.com or to codot.gov/programs/expresslanes 

CORA 

CTIO is a government-owned business within the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Any Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) requests should be submitted pursuant to the CDOT's CORA procedure, which is located here.