COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The 18-mile stretch of Interstate 25 between Monument and Castle Rock added what the Colorado Department of Transportation calls "dynamic tolling" to its express tollways, meaning prices in the lanes vary throughout the day.
Since its addition, CDOT Spokesperson Tim Hoover said the total number of cars going through at a given time has increased by about 20%.
"We're able to get more traffic through the corridor," Hoover said. "We've seen traffic throughput, which is to say: the total number of cars in a given period, increase by about 20%."
Hoover said pricing is determined by an algorithm, which adjusts when traffic is expected to be heavier or lighter. The new technology was originally added to the corridor in November of 2024.
"Lets say it's 3 o'clock in the afternoon on a Wednesday, for example, and we'd say there's usually so many thousands of cars that pass through around this time. Therefore, we think, based on pricing models, that the price should be this," Hoover said.
He added, the change has lead to a 20% increase in revenue from the express lanes, which he said any excess income from the lanes goes back into maintaining the road.
Some drivers in Colorado Springs said i hasn't changed much for them going through that stretch, like Adan Gaytan, who drives between Pueblo and Lakewood often.
There's some spots where it just bunches up real bad," Gaytan said. "If it's just too constant of traffic, then I'd probably consider (using) it."
"If there's a backup, everybody's in a backup, we're all gonna get there," Catherin Carr, who said it took longer than usual to get to Morrison from Colorado Springs due to traffic on I-25, said. "I leave and I'll get there when I get there."
Hoover said the ultimate goal is to add this dynamic pricing to all express lanes across the state. That may still be a while though, citing some express lanes are older and therefore use different systems.
