(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Starting on Monday, Nov. 25, the I-25 South Gap and I-70 Mountain Express Lane corridors will charge different rates based on the traffic. The new system is called dynamic tolling, and it will effect the 18-mile stretch of the I-25 Express Lanes between Monument and Castle Rock, and the westbound 12-mile stretch of I-70 Express Lanes between the Veterans Memorial Tunnels and Empire. "That's the whole goal is just to keep traffic moving," said Tim Hoover, a representative with the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT). Instead of being charged based on the time of day, like it was previously, drivers who use the Express Lanes will be charged based on traffic volume. CDOT said it's all about keeping traffic flow in all lanes. "You might see the price go down because we're saying to our algorithm, 'hey there's things that work a little bit better if more people got into the Express Lane,' so let's run the price down so we can put more people in the lane, speed all the lanes up," said Hoover. CDOT said the new system automatically adjusts tolls throughout the day according to real-time traffic conditions based on sensors and cameras reading traffic volumes, meaning tolls may be somewhat higher or lower than drivers have been accustomed to. It's meant to better manage traffic demands during peak hours and limit drivers weaving in and out of those lanes to maintain free traffic flow. CDOT also explained why Colorado doesn't use barriers to prevent drivers from weaving in and out of the Express Lanes, over the double white lines. "We have to plow snow in Colorado, and if we put... fiscal barriers like that on the road, we just can't plow the road," said Hoover. Tolls will be similar to the time-of-day pricing, ranging from $1.50 to $4.75 for the South Gap and up to $9 on the Mountain Express Lane. Rates will be updated every 15 minutes and overhead signs will display the current price. "It doesn't have to go up or down every 15 minutes, it's only that it could go up or down every 15 minutes, if conditions are changing that quickly. We need it to be kind of responsive," said Hoover. They also recommend purchasing a transponder to avoid being charged when driving with three or more passengers. "It's about 40% less than the license plate toll. So, if we have to read your license plate, that means we have to use human beings to confirm it, and so because of that, it costs more. So we really recommend people get these transponders. They pay for themselves after a few trips," added Hoover. Eventually, all Express Lanes in Colorado will switch to dynamic tolling, but CDOT said it's not necessarily a bad thing. "You might say I don't want to pay that $9, but what if it was only $6? You might say to yourself, yeah, you know, I'll buy it. That might save me a little bit of time... that's what we're talking about, is a pricing structure for real-time that allows folks to make those decisions better, and for us to keep the traffic moving," said Hoover. Dynamic tolling is not to be confused with the $75 dollar fine that will go into effect on Jan. 1 for drivers if they cross over the double white lines into or out of the Express Lane. Ahead of the January start date, violators will receive a warning ticket beginning on Dec. 1. 2025: Civil penalties for crossing solid lines of Colorado’s express lanes "We put these sensors and cameras and use a special software to try to detect people automatically when they're weaving in and out, the systems very effective. So if you weave over the lines to get in the lane and then come out of it, and it's not an approved access point," said Hoover. He said that violators weaving in and out of the Express Lane is a safety issue that can lead to car accidents.