O.C. Toll Roads Going Cash-Free in May

Orange County's toll road agency plans to eliminate cash toll collection from highways 73, 133, 241 and 261 in May, according to a Wednesday announcement.

It's part of a bid to draw more drivers onto the roads, Transportation Corridor Agencies CEO Neil Peterson said during a recent city council meeting.

The estimated 16 percent of drivers who pay cash to use the roads will then have five cash-free options.

Here are the five cash-free Orange County toll road options:

• Use a FasTrak transponder. These are pre-paid and come with a small monthly fee. They work with any toll road in the state.
• Sign up for an ExpressAccount. These are transponder-free accounts that can be paid in three ways: 1) Pay with a pre-paid account; 2) charge a credit card each time a toll is paid; 3) pay an invoice for all tolls used over the course of a month. ExpressAccount payments have no monthly maintenance fee, but the invoice option costs $2 per invoice.
• Without any account at all, pay online within 48 hours to avoid a fine.