Tennessee's new toll lanes to charge more when traffic's bad. Here's what to know

In the near future, if you’re driving on Interstate 24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro and want to hop on a toll lane, you could pay more during rush hour.

It’s a model that several states follow for their express lanes and it’s now included in the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s plan for the state’s new “choice lanes.”

The lanes would also include a minimum speed limit to ensure traffic runs smoothly and would allow public buses to ride for free, said TDOT spokesperson Rebekah Hammonds.

“The goal is to keep traffic flowing,” she said.

The toll lanes are a first for Tennessee and will be the largest project in TDOT history as part of Gov. Bill Lee’s Transportation Modernization Act. The plan, which was signed into law last year, will invest $3.3 billion to address traffic congestion and transportation infrastructure across the state.

The push comes as Middle Tennessee continues to see record growth, with traffic rates increasing more than 60% along I-24 in Rutherford County in recent years, according to TDOT.

While the growth in Nashville has slowed somewhat , the population in surrounding counties continues to explode, putting a strain on commutes. Rutherford County continues to top the state’s list of fastest growing counties, adding more than 6,400 new residents last year.

TDOT’s plan will build two toll lanes in each direction along segments of the I-24 stretch between Murfresboro and Nashville through a public-private partnership.

Hammonds said the state is modeling the project off similar programs in Florida, Georgia, Virginia and Texas that also use dynamic pricing.

In Texas, for example , toll prices on TEXpress segments can range from 15 cents per mile in lighter traffic to 90 cents a mile during rush hour.

Residents will have a chance to weigh in on the state’s plans in a series of public meetings this month.

What are choice lanes?

Unlike traditional toll roads that charge drivers a flat fee to use the road, choice lanes give drivers an option to move into a faster lane and bypass traffic congestion.

The cost would vary depending on how many cars are on the road, similar to how airline ticket prices fluctuate depending on demand.

The lanes will be built, financed and operated by a private sector partner through a public-private partnership, with initial funding provided by the state. The private sector partner would set the user fee based on usage and market rates.

For now, the main project is on I-24, but TDOT is considering other areas including I-65 between Nashville and Spring Hill as well as parts of Knoxville and Chattanooga.

When will the project start and how can I weigh in?

The plan is still in the early phases, with construction expected to start in 2027. TDOT is kicking off a series of public meetings this month, starting with a virtual meeting on Wednesday at 5 p.m. on the TDOT website .

Other meetings:

Aug. 21, 5 to 7 p.m.Smyrna Event Center100 Sam Ridley Parkway E, Smyrna

Aug. 28, 5 to 7 p.m.Nashville Fairgrounds401 Wingrove St., Nashville

Aug. 29, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.Southeast Community Center5260 Hickory Hollow Pkwy #202, Antioch

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee's new toll lanes to charge more when traffic's bad. Here's what to know