NEWS - Blue Water Bridge tolling operations now accepting credit and debit cards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                     MONDAY, APRIL 2, 2018

 

CONTACT: Jocelyn Hall, MDOT Office of Communications, 989-245-7117

                 hallj20@michigan.gov

 

Blue Water Bridge tolling operations now accepting credit and debit cards

 

Fast facts: - MDOT's eastbound Blue Water Bridge span recently began accepting credit and debit cards as payment at toll booths.

- BWB staff are working to improve the customer experience, including exploring the addition of a new commuter program.

- Beginning April 1, customers paying in Canadian currency will pay a reduced rate based on calculations over the previous six-month exchange rate.

April 2, 2018 -- Effective immediately, the eastbound span of the Blue Water Bridge (BWB) is now accepting credit and debit cards as payment for toll fares. Following a recent software upgrade, the BWB administration completed a test trial of the new program with the addition of credit and debit cards and found the system to be functioning smoothly.

            "BWB staff have been working to implement positive changes with the tolling operations that will create more ease for our customers," said BWB Administrator Amy Winn-VanHoeck. "When the token program expired, customers were left with only the option to pay cash at the tolls. This sometimes resulted in motorists having to be re-routed off the bridge. Fortunately, that will no longer be a concern."

            The addition of credit and debit cards is expected to be a welcome accommodation for motorists, which will eventually be accompanied by the addition of a new commuter program. Winn-VanHoeck says she and her staff have been working to establish a new program that will improve ease of routine travel, as well as curb the expense. "We have some customers who cross twice a day throughout the year, and we need to have a program established that can support that kind of consistent travel, making it quicker and easier for them to cross, while also offering a discount," Winn-VanHoeck added.

While the commuter program is still in its early stages, motorists can rest assured that this is a priority for BWB leadership and that Winn-VanHoeck is diligently leading that charge.

            Beginning April 1, customers paying in Canadian dollars (CAD) will notice a change in tolls, as the most recent parity policy adjustment reduced fares by $.25. The rates listed below will be in effect April 1 through Sept. 30, 2018:

• Passenger vehicle tolls will decrease to $3.75 (CAD) per trip.

• Each extra axle will decrease to $3.75 (CAD) per trip.

• Trucks and buses per axle will decrease to $4 (CAD) per trip.