Green E-ZPass arrived- was it worth it?

I just went through a lengthy exercise - I looked back through my last year's worth of ezpass activity to see if a green permit would be worth it. Currently I have a white commuter pass (upstate ticketed commuter). I did the math and for the last year's tolls it would have been $86.94 without the commuter plan. The commuter plan is currently $80 a year. With the green tag the same tolls would have been $79.38. As I am commuting less each year due to work at home arrangements, I will not renew the commuter pass in 2009, but will substitute with a green pass. I ordered my green pass today so that when renewal time comes for the commuter pass, I will be all set with my new green one.

 

In the New Jersey Forum here at Prius Chat, a few of us have discussed both the Green Pass and Clean Pass. (http://priuschat.com/forums/nj-new-jersey/42897-port-authority-green-pass-program.html)

There has been a claim made that the NYS Thruway and Port Authority discount plans can be combined on the Green Pass.
This has not be confirmed.

The Green Pass can be used in place of a "White" EZ pass, but you will not get a discounted rate for other than the Thruway or P.A. Bridges and Tunnels. If you have a commuter discount plan, for the New York State Bridge Authority, you can not use the Green Pass for a discount.

So is it all worth it? Maybe in the long run. Getting the pass and getting it set up is a bit of a hassle. Sending back the White Pass is not an issue unless you have reached the limit of five passes. If enough New York and New Jersey Prius drivers sign up for the Green Pass, it may force the EZ Pass people to take their collective heads out of that dark place they keep them in and get it all straightened out!

 

Well said - I could not agree more. While my existing "white pass" will cost me about the same as the "green pass" due to the commuter discounts on the white one - I choose the green one as I feel we need to press the issue! There is no reason why I should not be able to combine the 2 and get 10% off my commuter pass fee of $80. I am helping to eliminate waste and all they do is give me a hard time about the pass.

 

Just an FYI - You don't need to pay the stupid fastlane fees for getting the transponder. Just get an ezpass which is free and good in the same places.