San Francisco...Express Lane opens @ I-680 freeway! Toll road for speedy...

Signs on the freeway are about to be uncovered on the highway next week to reveal info on the spanking-new Express Lane in the Bay area with a 1-mile advance warning.

The carpool lane allows lone motorists the opportunity to speed up their daily commute for a nominal toll fee.

From 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, for instance, freeway riders may pay a fluctuating fee to join in on carpools of two or more in the fast lane.

According to officials, the rates will range from a mere thirty cents - when traffic in other lanes is light -  to maximums of four to six dollars during peak hours when it is expected commuters will pay through the nose to avoid the nasty snarling traffic jams.

Fees will be posted, to ensure motorists are taken by surprisewhen the bill is calculated.

Tolls will be collected electronically from FasTrak transponders by overhead antennas.

Gotcha!

Although the 680 express is just a 14-mile stretch in one direction, the Sunol Grade route it services is expected to inspire a dizzing array of express toll lanes in the near and distant future.

http://www.thetattler.biz



Arco...dinging drivers at ATM! The greedy bast**ds...

The needle was inching to the empty mark, so I roared off the highway and zoomed up to the nearest pump.

The nasty problem you encounter when you're miles outside of the Los Angeles area?

Gas prices are a tad higher 'cause they know they've got you by the short & curlies.

The alternative?

Go bust in the middle of the desert and let the buzzards get 'ya!

So, in spite of the fact the price per gallon was just a few cents higher than black gold in WeHo, I strode up to the pump, swiped my ATM card, and was ready to do the damage to my checking account.

Whoa nellie!

What did the dialogue box just blurt out as I stood in the sweltering afternoon sun?

Better grab my specs, pronto, and scrutinize that fine print!

Holy Moly!

Arco informed me - dryly, matter-of-fact - that to use the ATM (debit or credit) they were going to ding me a whopping 59 cent surcharge for the use of my plastic at their smelly old gas pump.

No, that's not okey-dokey.

I strode inside, slapped ten bucks on the counter, and decided to fill 'er up at the next station.

Sorry, Arco, I don't support greed!

Oh, and have a nice day, eh?

http://www.julianayrs.com