NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — Tennessee drivers will soon be able to pay for a quicker commute with the state’s first toll lanes, branded as “Choice Lanes,” with the first highway to get them being I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro.
While public buses and TDOT officials will use these lanes for free, other motorists will face variable tolls depending on traffic demand.
The initiative was a part of Governor Bill Lee’s infrastructure bill, dubbed the Transportation Modernization Act. The new lanes aim to provide a more predictable travel experience for those willing to pay.
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“If you’re going to choose to spend your hard-earned money on these Choice Lanes, it’s to get you somewhere quicker and ensure a reliable trip time,” said Rebekah Hammonds, Community Relations Officer for the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
In Florida, a state often cited by TDOT as an example of somewhere where toll lanes reduced congestion, prices for use can vary anywhere from 50 cents to as high as $10, according to the Miami Herald.
This “dynamic pricing” is similar to surge pricing used by ride-sharing apps like Uber and Lyft.
In addition to fluctuating tolls based on demand, these lanes will maintain minimum speed limits—likely between 45 and 55 miles per hour—to guarantee smooth traffic flow.
Pricing will be determined by the TMA board, according to Hammonds, which will assess data and set toll rates accordingly.
While the tolls offer convenience, TDOT also aims to secure a beneficial agreement with a private company to construct the lanes. With a total working budget of $1.2 billion, TDOT sees a public-private partnership as essential to delivering this $2 billion project to add these lanes to this section of I-24.
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Although no private contractor has been chosen yet, TDOT is considering potential locations for the entrances and exits of these lanes.
According to a TDOT presentation, direct access ramps will likely be at Sam Ridley Parkway, Waldron Road, Bell Road, and East Thompson Lane.
Community meetings where members of the public can voice their opinions and concerns on the details of the plan and gather public input will begin next week.
Describing the project as “the largest and most complex” in the state’s history, Hammonds assures that once drivers enter the lane, the price remains fixed for their journey.
Construction for the Choice Lanes is slated to begin in 2027.
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