95 Express is an innovative, lower-cost alternative to traditional highway construction that offers a variety of options for avoiding congestion. A variable-priced toll that adjusts to congestion levels encourages travel in less heavily traveled periods. It also offers a toll-free option for those who choose to travel in registered carpools.  Both of these measures reduce the number of cars on the road during the peak travel periods.  Toll-free travel for motorcycles and registered hybrid vehicles encourages more environmentally conscious options. And, more reliable travel speeds enhance transit service between Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, which will offer more comfortable, high-quality hybrid buses.

95 Express is opening in three phases:

• Phase 1A is open and runs northbound on I-95 from I-195/SR-112 to the Golden Glades area just north of 151st Street in Miami-Dade County. Phase 1B will open for tolling in January 2010and will run southbound on I-95 from just south of Miami Gardens Drive/NW 186th Street to just north of I-395/SR-836. Phase 1B will also extend the northbound express lanes further to the south from just north of I-195/SR 112 to I-395/SR-836.
  
  
• Phase 2 will extend the express lanes to provide a continuous facility between I-395/SR-836 in Miami-Dade County and Broward Boulevard in Broward County. With anticipated project funding, Phase 2 can be under construction as early as September 2010 and open to traffic in Spring 2012.

Express lanes are separated from local traffic lanes by a barrier of flexible plastic poles.

Yes. The speed limit is 55 mph, both in the express lanes and the local lanes within Miami-Dade County.

You may enter northbound 95 Express:

• From I-95 northbound just north of I-395/SR-836 in downtown Miami
• From the left hand ramp of SR-112 eastbound or
• From the intersection at NW 10th Avenue and NW 39th Street in Miami.

You may continue to seven destinations.

From the left express lane:

• Continue north on I-95 via the flyover to Broward County
• Exit into the Park & Ride lot
• Go to SR 826 East via the Park & Ride lot
• Go to US 441 via the Park & Ride lot
  

From the right express lane:

• Exit onto the Turnpike
• Exit onto SR 826 West
• Merge right into the I-95 local lanes

Drivers may enter 95 Express on I-95 northbound just north of I-395 in downtown Miami, from the left hand ramp of SR-112 eastbound or from the intersection at NW 10th Avenue and NW 39th Street.  I-195 is not an access point to the 95 Express lanes. Therefore there are no advance toll rate signs on I-195 westbound.

You may enter southbound 95 Express:

• From just south of Miami Gardens Drive / NW 186th Street
• From I-95 South at NW 151st Street
• From southbound Florida’s Turnpike
• From eastbound SR-826
• From US-441

You may continue to two destinations.

From the left express lane:

• Exit onto Westbound SR-112 flyover to Miami International Airport
  

From the right express lane:

• Continue to the end of the express lanes just north of I-395/SR-836

Do not enter the express lanes. Use the local lanes.

Stay in the express lanes until you can safely exit at the end. Remain calm, do not stop or weave in between the plastic poles.

During the development of this project, express lane entrances and exits were limited to improve traffic flow by reducing the number of vehicles changing lanes in and out of the facility. This reduction of lane changing also maximizes safety along the facility.

The HOV lanes no longer offered reliable travel. By implementing express lanes, the Florida Department of Transportation was able to considerably increase the people-moving capacity of I-95 with a relatively modest investment by:

• Converting the existing HOV lanes.
• Adding a new lane in each direction.
• Implementing congestion pricing along with incentives for ride-sharing. 

The conversion also allows significant improvements to transit service in the following ways:

• Reliable 95 Express bus operations with significantly reduced travel times and shorter headways.
• Nearly $20 million in capital funds from the Federal Transportation Administration for the purchase of new low-emission buses will allow for more frequent service and brand new routes.
• Financial support for operations and maintenance.

The Florida Department of Transportation is taking the lead in implementing 95 Express in partnership with the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Metropolitan Planning Organizations of Miami-Dade & Broward Counties, Miami-Dade & Broward County Transit, Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, Miami-Dade Expressway Authority and South Florida Commuter Services.

No. I-195 is not at an access point to the 95 Express lanes. Plastic poles prevent traffic on the I-195 on-ramp from entering the express lanes. Drivers may enter 95 Express on I-95 northbound just north of I-395 in downtown Miami, from the left hand ramp of SR-112 eastbound or from the intersection at NW 10th Avenue and NW 39th Street.

Currently, the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization and The City of Miami Beach, is studying additional access to and from the express lanes north of I-195.

No. Access to Eastbound I-195 / Julia Tuttle Causeway will be available from the local lanes only.

Currently, the Department of Transportation, in cooperation with the Miami-Dade Metropolitan Planning Organization and The City of Miami Beach, is studying additional access to and from the express lanes north of I-195.

The project creates new choices for consistent and dependable travel throughout the day and particularly during rush hours. South of the Golden Glades Interchange, at times I-95 carries over 290,000 vehicles per day, with traffic volumes expected to exceed 360,000 vehicles per day by 2030. It would be cost prohibitive to widen the corridor, so congestion management strategies were explored.

Congestion pricing within the express lanes limits the number of vehicles using them and keeps traffic flowing. Not all drivers will choose to use 95 Express all the time, but since some drivers may, congestion in the regular lanes will be reduced.

The average weekday traffic using 95 Express in one direction is about 22,000 vehicles per day for the current phase (Phase 1A).

By the time tolling begins in the southbound direction in January 2010, the average weekday traffic in the express lanes northbound and southbound between downtown Miami and the Golden Glades Interchange is projected to be over 55,000 vehicles per day. Of course the number of people that will be moving in these lanes will be higher with all the carpoolers, vanpoolers and buses.

No. 95 Express tolls vary based on the level of congestion as you enter the express lanes. When traffic is light, the toll is less. When traffic is heavy, the toll is more. The typical toll rate for initial Phase 1A fluctuates between 25¢ and $2.65, although it may go as high as $6.20 under extreme conditions.

The toll rate is displayed on the overhead electronic signs before each of the 95 Express entrances so drivers have time to decide to use the express lanes or stay in the local lanes.

When traveling in a registered carpool or in a registered hybrid vehicle, drivers must shield their transponder. Otherwise the toll amount will be deducted from the prepaid SunPass account.

Portable transponders should be placed in a shield bag.  These are available at no additional cost from South Florida Commuter Services at 1-800-234-RIDE. Drivers who own a SunPass Mini should call 1-800-234-RIDE for instructions on how to travel toll-free.

Be aware that registered carpoolers must have their SunPass properly mounted when they are traveling alone or with non-registered passengers so the toll may be deducted from their prepaid SunPass account. The SunPass User Manual may be viewed at http://www.sunpass.com/UserManual.cfm.

You should not enter the facility.

If you unintentionally enter the 95 Express lanes and are not a registered 95 Express toll-free user or a SunPass customer, you are still obligated to pay the toll. Please mail toll payment (check or money orders only, indicating vehicle plate information, date, time and 95 Express) to FDOT Turnpike Enterprise, P.O. Box 310, Ocoee, FL 34761-0310. DO NOT SEND CASH. Please be sure to retain a copy of your cancelled check/money order in the event a FDOT toll violation is generated. This may assist in closing the document once the document is received.

If you do not recall the toll rate in effect at the time you drove through the 95 Express lanes, please call the SunPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-865-5352 for assistance.

In the event that you receive an Unpaid Toll Violation, Violation Warning Letter or a Uniform Traffic Citation, be sure to respond by the due date and follow the instructions on the toll violation document.
If you do not recall the toll rate in effect at the time you drove through the 95 Express lanes, please call the SunPass Customer Service Center at 1-888-865-5352 for assistance.

In the event that you receive an Unpaid Toll Notice, Violation Warning Letter or a Uniform Traffic Citation, be sure to respond by the due date and follow the instructions on the toll violation document.

The SunPass Portable and new SunPass Mini are available at Publix, CVS/pharmacy, Sedano's and Navarro. They can also be purchased at Turnpike service plazas and Turnpike gas stations.  For more information please visit www.sunpass.com/saleslocations.cfm or call SunPass Customer Service at 1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352).

Shield your transponder on 95 Express. If you travel through adjacent toll plazas, place the transponder in the shield bag prior to beginning your trip. When you are traveling on the toll roads not including 95 Express, please remember to use your transponder as you normally do.

Tolling of interstate facilities is specifically authorized under a program administered by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. This legislation permits the construction of high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes in specific cases. I-95 in Miami-Dade County was included under the Urban Partnership Agreement (UPA) program and is an authorized toll facility.

While I-95 was constructed with Federal and State tax funds, the cost of the highway does not end there.  Maintenance and repair of the State's highways are major continuous costs. Plus operations, including the Transportation Management Center, Road Ranger Service, and Florida Highway Patrol, are recurring costs. Federal and State funds have been unable to keep up with the ongoing costs of operating the State's highways.

The tolls also offer a means of relieving traffic congestion without building new roads or widening existing roads.  The tolls are the cost of increased mobility in the I-95 corridor without the adverse construction impacts.

More importantly, 95 Express represents a totally different approach to reducing traffic congestion in south Florida. Congestion pricing encourages ride-sharing, use of fuel-efficient vehicles and transit services, and off-peak travel. These are all things that more traditional facilities do not provide.

Registered carpools of three or more passengers, South Florida vanpools and registered hybrid vehicles can drive toll-free, but they must be registered with South Florida Commuter Services. Motorcycle can use the express lanes toll-free and do not need to register.  For instructions on how to register a hybrid or a 3+ carpool, go to www.1800234RIDE.com or call 1-800-234-RIDE.  Miami-Dade and Broward County transit buses, Miami-Dade public school buses, and over the road motor coaches (as designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation) also travel toll-free.

The list of qualified hybrid vehicles can be found at: www.flhsmv.gov/dmv/HOV.html. You may also call 1-800-234-RIDE to find out about specific hybrid vehicles.

Trucks with two axles are allowed on the express lanes as toll-paying vehicles. Trucks with three or more axles are not allowed on 95 Express unless they are designated as emergency vehicles responding to specific incidents.

Toll exempt vehicles, with the exception of motorcycles, will have a visible decal displayed on the windshield. The decal is provided by South Florida Commuter Services upon valid registration.

The 95 Express project does not require any person from any socio-economic group to use the express lanes and pay a toll. Instead, it offers all persons in every group the choice of deciding for themselves which option works best for them on any given day.

It should also be noted that experience on similar projects elsewhere in the country has shown that people in all socio-economic groups use express lanes.  Express lanes are available for use whenever the cost of being late or having to allow extra time is greater than the price of the toll.

An aggressive program has been implemented that includes cameras, traffic detectors, incident response, and other measures to reduce the effects of crashes and breakdowns on traffic flow. The presence of Road Rangers and dedicated FHP patrols has been increased on I-95. Dedicated 95 Express staffing at the SunGuide Transportation Management Center has also been increased to monitor traffic activity and facilitate quick response to incidents.

Remain in your vehicle and call *FHP (*347). Wait for assistance. If you do not have a mobile phone, remain in your vehicle until help arrives.  Roadside cameras are monitored 24-hours a day and the SunGuide Traffic Management Center can dispatch help. Road Rangers and Florida Highway Patrol presence has been increased so it is likely that they will respond even before being called by the Traffic Management Center.

Near Los Angeles, congestion pricing has been used for ten years on highly congested State Road 91. San Diego, Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver have converted HOV lanes to toll lanes. They all give motorists the choice to use them when needed.

Toll violations will be enforced via Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) automatic violation enforcement system. All users without a valid transponder will have their license plates photographed.  Motorists are subject to fines and penalties if they travel on 95 Express without a SunPass or are not a registered toll exempt user.

The license plates of registered toll-exempt users will be on file preventing fines and penalties from being assessed to those who comply with requirements. Registered carpoolers who do not comply with registration/occupancy requirementscan have their toll-exempt privilege revoked if they do not properly mount their transponder and pay the toll. The SunPass User Manual may be viewed at http://www.sunpass.com/UserManual.cfm.

FHP monitors the occupancy requirement (3+ carpools) on 95 Express. Registered carpool vehicles are identified by a decal and troopers at the roadside look for the minimum number of occupants. Drivers failing to meet the occupancy requirement will receive a citation.

Express bus riders on I-95 accounted for 18% of travelers in the HOV lane during peak periods. 95 Express makes Miami-Dade and Broward County transit services more reliable for their users. In the past, express buses operated every five minutes during peak periods from Golden Glades Interchange to downtown Miami, with a travel time of approximately 30 minutes. Starting in January 2010, new 95 ExpressBus Rapid Transit routes will be introduced which will increase frequency of service.  On these new routes, bus service across the county line will be seamless, eliminating the need for transfers at the Golden Glades Park-n-Ride. The result will mean improved travel conditions for transit users.

For transit information call 305-770-3131 (Miami-Dade Transit), or 954-357-8400 (Broward County Transit)

This is the new ramp signaling system which has been installed on all I-95 entrances between NW 62nd Street and Ives Dairy Road. Ramp signaling reduces congestion on the highway by preventing too many vehicles from entering at once.  These signals will constantly monitor traffic flow on I-95 and allow one or two cars to enter at a time, in effect, forcing drivers to take turns. The result is better traffic flow.

Ramp signals in the northbound direction were opened shortly after toll collection started on 95 Express northbound. Ramp signals in the southbound direction will open shortly after tolling on the southbound express lanes is operational. 

• 95 EXPRESS:
  www.95express.com 1-877-95X FDOT (1-877-959-3368)
  
  
• SUNGUIDE:
  www.sunguide.org Dial 511
  
  
• SOUTH FLORIDA COMMUTER SERVICES:
  www.1800234ride.com 1-800-234-RIDE (1-800-234-7433)
  
  
• SUNPASS:
  www.sunpass.com 1-888-TOLL-FLA (1-888-865-5352)
  
  
• MIAMI-DADE COUNTY TRANSIT:
  www.miamidade.gov/transit 305-770-3131
  
  
• BROWARD COUNTY TRANSIT:
  www.broward.org/bct 954-357-8400