Thousands of people have opened RiverLink accounts during the first month of operations. More than 4,000 people have opened personal accounts, and more than 100 businesses have opened commercial accounts. RiverLink launched operations July 21, with tolling not expected to start until late this year.
RiverLink is the new, all-electronic tolling system making the Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project possible. There are no toll booths, no coin machines, no lines and no stopping. Initial toll rates range from $2-$12. The lowest toll rates are for drivers with transponders. Drivers must set up a prepaid account to get a transponder.
“We’re thrilled with the number of drivers who have already taken that first step of opening their accounts,” said Megan McLain, innovative finance manager with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet. “Having a RiverLink account and transponder is the key to receiving the lowest toll rates.”
Opening a RiverLink Account
Drivers can open a personal account online at www.RiverLink.com, by phone at 855-RIV-LINK or in person at one of two RiverLink customer service centers.
The customer service centers are located at 400 East Main Street in Louisville and 103 Quartermaster Court in Jeffersonville. The centers are open 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday – Friday. They are also open 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday during the first year of operations.
“The process of setting up an account is easy,” said Clint Murphy, director of tolling oversight with the Indiana Department of Transportation. “A person needs to know the make, model, year, color and license plate number for each vehicle being registered. The entire process should take less than ten minutes, and then drivers are ready for the start of tolling later this year.”
There are two types of RiverLink accounts – personal accounts and commercial accounts.
A personal account can include up to four vehicles, with a minimum balance of $20 to open the account. The minimum balance to open a commercial account is $20 per vehicle. Calling a customer service representative (855-RIV-LINK) is the fastest and easiest way for a business to open an account.
Transponder Choices
There are two types of RiverLink transponders – RiverLink local transponders and RiverLink E-ZPass transponders. Drivers signing up for RiverLink accounts have requested more than 4,000 RiverLink local transponders to date, and have ordered nearly 1,700 RiverLink E-ZPass transponders.
A RiverLink local transponder is free of charge, one per registered vehicle. The small sticker adheres to the windshield, is non-transferable and will work only on the local tolled bridges. Drivers choosing a RiverLink local transponder will receive it when setting up their account, either in person or in the mail.
A RiverLink E-ZPass transponder is $15 per transponder. It’s mounted to the windshield, is portable from vehicle to vehicle registered to a single account and works in all 16 E-ZPass states (https://e-zpassiag.com/about-e-zpass/where-can-i-use-it). Drivers choosing a RiverLink E-ZPass transponder will receive it later this year, before the start of tolling.
A sensor reads the transponder and the appropriate toll is deducted from a prepaid account. If you set up your account online or by phone, your transponder will be mailed to you, free of charge.
Start of Tolling
Tolling will begin after cross-river capacity is added to the system. That means either the improved John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge or the new East End bridge will be complete and fully open to traffic. Both are expected to happen late this year.
The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge, the improved Kennedy Bridge and the new East End bridge will be tolled. The Sherman Minton Bridge and the Clark Memorial Bridge will not be tolled. Find more information at www.riverlink.com.