TxTag transition to Harris County Toll Road Authority begins Saturday in Austin

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- A change for TxTag customers begins Saturday. People using Austin toll roads are going to be billed through the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA), according to a news release from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). This change also applies for drivers without a toll tag.

TxDOT entered into the agreement with HCTRA on Nov. 6, the release said.

Customers with TxTag will also transition their EZ TAG account via HCTRA.org instead of TxTag.org, the release said. Customers will also have other options to pay those tolls by visiting any EZ TAG stores in Houston or Austin, or they can pay at Walmart, H-E-B and more.

Once the migration to HCTRA happens, non-tag customers will get one bill from HCTRA for travel on TxDOT or HCTRA toll roads in Austin and Houston, the release said.

"This EZ Invoice sent by HCTRA will include only the fees under HCTRA invoicing structure. Austin drivers without a tag will continue to receive separate bills on Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority toll roads," TxDOT said in the release.

KXAN Investigates first brought the story last week. This comes after an agreement between TxDOT and the HCTRA. TxTag customers who had accounts transferred can start accessing their account Dec. 2.

TxDOT said the move is going to improve customer experiences and make operations more efficient and cost effective. The state transit agency has been trying for years to shore up its TxTag billing and customer service system, according to TxDOT.

After the merger, the cost to process a toll transaction will “effectively be cut in half from about 30 cents per transaction to closer to 15 or 16 cents per transaction,” Executive Director Marc Williams said to KXAN Investigates last week. Over many years, the savings should approach $100 million for the state, he added.

To read the full release from TxDOT, visit the agency's website.

Matt Grant contributed to this report.