The Colorado Department of Transportation announced on Mar. 31 that tolling will begin April 7 on the new I-25 Express Lanes between Berthoud and Fort Collins, with enforcement of lane violations starting one month later.
The move introduces a new system for managing traffic congestion along this key corridor in Larimer and Weld counties. The department said the tolls are intended to help manage congestion across all lanes, not just those tolled.
Drivers using an ExpressToll pass will pay between $1 and $4.75 per segment depending on time of day, direction, and segment traveled. For example, traveling all three segments northbound from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. will cost $12.20 at peak times, while off-peak trips could be as low as $3 for the same distance. Drivers without an ExpressToll pass will pay higher rates through license plate billing.
Enforcement of rules against weaving over solid lines into or out of the Express Lanes begins with a warning period from April 7 to May 7; after that date, violators face civil penalties starting at $75 for crossing double white lines illegally. “Express Lanes aren’t just about saving time for the drivers who choose to use them,” said Tim Hoover, deputy director of communications for the Colorado Department of Transportation. “They’re designed to help manage congestion across the entire corridor. When traffic moves safely in and out of the Express Lanes, it reduces pressure on the regular, untolled lanes, which benefits all drivers — whether they pay a toll or not.”
Motorcyclists, commercial transit vehicles, and cars with three or more passengers using a switchable HOV3+ transponder can use these lanes free of charge.
According to the official website, Shoshana Lew is executive director for CDOT; her agency works to improve quality of life in Colorado through integrated transportation solutions by building and maintaining highways as well as supporting aviation and transit projects statewide. The department oversees transportation infrastructure throughout Colorado. It aims to deliver safe multi-modal systems while enhancing environmental standards. CDOT operates in highway maintenance alongside aviation support, administering grants for both sectors.
