Toll roads calling it quits on cash

AUSTIN (KXAN) - You won't find yourself digging around for change in the car much longer.  Starting Jan. 1, toll roads in Central Texas will no longer accept cash as payment.

Portions of SH 130, 183-A, and other toll roads are already cashless. Now,  Loop 1 MoPac Extension, SH 45 and the remainder of SH 130 will not accept cash payments after the turn of the year.

Cash only lanes will be a thing of the past. For some drivers, not having the option isn't a welcome change.

"It's just real inconvenient," says Zach Fletcher,  "I always have change in my car, so it's real inconvenient for me, so I don't really like it."

Purchasing a TxTag account isn't appealing to some drivers.

"Now we've got to go with the TxTag and the credit card and all that stuff," said Marvin Massingill.

But some drives think  no cash makes perfect sense.

"It's a good idea because everybody's using credit cards these days," said Rana Shah, "Nobody's using change and cash."

Cash-only lanes will be blocked, a lot of signs will have to be replaced and eventually crews will tear out the booths.

The sun might be setting on the old ways, but not everyone is sold on the new.
    
"I'll definitely think twice about it," said Fletcher.

"More than likely what's going to  happen is we're going to go around and not use the toll road," said Massingill.

Drivers can either register for a TxTag account, or pay-by-mail each time they pass through a toll.

The TxTag account is pre-paid with a minimum of $20.