MnPASS
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MnPASS is an electronic toll collection system operated by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. As of 2005, the only place the system is used is on the high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes of Interstate 394 (see that article for details). There are no traditional toll roads in the state.
The MnPASS transponder has an initial cost of US$40 and there is an additional charge of $1.50 per month. Tolls for I-394 are expected to usually run between $1 and $4, though highly congested periods may see it go as high as $8. The price of the toll is determined by the density of the traffic. When there is more traffic, the toll is priced higher. Electronic sensors monitor the traffic density, and tolls are changed every three minutes. On hours not during rush hour, tolls are $0.25 for the reversible lanes between I-94 and Highway 100 and free (signed simply as "OPEN") between Highway 100 and Interstate 494. During "OPEN" periods, any single passenger vehicle may use the lane regardless of whether or not they have a transponder installed.
Roadways that are being examined for future MnPASS expansion include the Lowry Hill Tunnel area of Interstate 94, which is just south of the junction between I-94 and I-394.
[edit] I-394
There are two high-occupancy toll (HOT) express lanes at the center of Interstate 394. Prior to May 16, 2005, they had been traditional high-occupancy vehicle (HOV, or carpool) lanes, allowing buses, motorcycles, and vehicles with two or more occupants to use them during rush hour periods, while single-occupancy vehicles were not permitted. Now, drivers riding alone can use the lanes at any time, but must have a MnPASS electronic toll collection transponder in order to pay for using the express portions. However, due to bottlenecks in a few places, the Minnesota Department of Transportation relaxed restrictions to allow all traffic in at least one area during non-rush hour times.
From I-494 to Minnesota State Highway 100, the lanes are separated from traffic by double white lines. Between MN-100 and Interstate 94 near downtown, the two lanes are combined into a reversible expressway in the median that is separated from the eastbound and westbound lanes by a concrete barrier. This segment changes directions to accommodate the traffic flow at different times of day, so in the morning, it is open to downtown-bound eastward flowing traffic, while it is open to westbound traffic in the evening.
