SOUTHERN INDIANA — Drivers are urged to prepare for the start of tolling, which begins at 4 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, it was announced Tuesday.
"Know that that's just around the corner, two and a half weeks away," RiverLink spokeswoman Mindy Peterson said during a news conference at the Jeffersonville customer service center.
Those who haven't yet opened an account with RiverLink, the new all-electronic system, should do so as soon as possible, Peterson said.
"We are encouraging you to do that by the end of this week, Dec. 17, to help ensure that you have your transponder in hand ready to go for day one of tolling," she said.
The Abraham Lincoln, Kennedy and east-end bridges will be tolled. The Sherman Minton and Clark Memorial bridges will remain toll-free.
There are a few ways to open a RiverLink account, which offers the lowest rates, but Peterson encouraged people to go online at Riverlink.com because it's the fastest and easiest way.
People can also visit one of two customer service centers or call 855-RIV-LINK. Peterson suggested calling early in the morning.
"I think we're going to see a very high volume [of customers] this week," she said. "That's why we want to stress — website, website, website — if you are an individual." Businesses must call or register at a service center.
"We want to make sure that everyone will be taken care of that wants to be taken care of," she said.
RiverLink has about 80,000 local transponders in stock, but is ordering another 100,000 just in case, said Clint Murphy, director of tolling oversight for the Indiana Department of Transportation.
More than 100,000 RiverLink accounts have been opened, 82,000 requesting a local transponder and 18,000 requesting an EZ-Pass transponder. More than 40,000 families and 1,500 businesses have opened accounts.
EZ-Pass transponders, which will work in 16 states, have not yet been distributed because they aren't yet functional.
They'll be distributed by the end of next week, Peterson said.
"You should absolutely have it in hand before tolling starts," she assured. "If you don't have your transponder in hand, if you've signed up for your account, if your license plate is registered, you are paying the lowest rate starting with day one of tolling."
She also urged those with transponders to go ahead and place them on the inside of windshields if they haven't done so yet. Drivers with local transponders are asked to run the heat in their cars for a few minutes to ensure they stick well.
"There is not one magic spot for this transponder," Peterson said. "Rule of thumb — put it as high and as central as possible, close to the rearview mirror, 3 inches away from any metal, tint and those black dots around the rearview mirror."
Many have been wondering why the tolling date wasn't announced sooner, Murphy said.
"The fact is, RiverLink is a brand new, highly technical all-electronic tolling system, and it was very important that we successfully completed the testing protocol to properly commission this new system," he said. System testing is now officially complete.
Jan. 1 is on a Sunday, so the customer service centers won't be open.
"One of the advantages with Dec. 30 is it’s on Friday at the end of a holiday week," Peterson said. "Traffic volume is expected to be lower and there is a real advantage to opening a new tolling system with lower traffic volumes."