Transportation officials say the tolls on Georgia 400, a busy commuter route on the north side of Atlanta, will end later this year.

The State Road and Tollway Authority plans to remove the .50-cent toll booths the week before Thanksgiving, weather permitting. Officials anticipate an 18 percent increase in volume once the tolls are removed.

Todd Long, Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Transportation, told GPB-TV’s Primetime Lawmakers this week that rather than raise road money through traditional tolls, G-DOT plans to focus more on high occupancy toll lanes around Atlanta.

“We’re going to be looking at a project on I-75 to the north, and on I-75 to the south side of the city. We’ll be adding new pavement though. And these new pavement lanes will give us an opportunity to at least regulate, control and price lanes so that you have a reliable trip. And you can make a choice, with a reliable trip going home, or sit in the regular lanes with all the traffic.”he said.

HOT lanes allow single occupant vehicles to move into an HOV lane by paying a toll. Long said the lanes are gaining in popularity along I-85.

Contributors: Ellen Reinhardt

Tags: politics, tolls, HOT lanes, GA 400