Nationwide experts on high-occupancy toll lanes — such as those planned for Interstate 85 in Gwinnett and DeKalb counties — plan to talk about programs in their communities during a forum set for Tuesday in Atlanta.

Panelists will include Regina McElroy of the Federal Highway Administration, Peggy Catlin of the Colorado Department of Transportation, Linda Koblick of Hennepin County in Minnesota and Tina Geiselbrecht of the Texas Transportation Institute.

They are expected to talk about the process of putting the toll lanes in their communities, including public perceptions of the work.
The event will be open to the public. The audience will be able to question the panelists.

Georgia Department of Transportation Commissioner Vance Smith will moderate the event, which is sponsored by the DOT and the Georgia State Road and Tollway Authority.

The DOT’s project calls for converting high-occupancy vehicle lanes to the toll lanes from Chamblee-Tucker Road to just north of Old Peachtree Road, about 16 miles.

Currently, two or more people can travel that stretch for free. Under the new system, only cars with three or more people can ride that stretch toll-free.

All others would pay a fee based on the amount of traffic filling the lane, DOT officials have said.

A $110 million Federal Highway Administration grant would go toward the project. Georgia would contribute $37 million.

The toll collected from commuters would be used to operate and maintain the lane and the system.

Teri Pope, spokeswoman in the DOT’s Gainesville office, said the DOT is working with federal officials to approve an environmental document.

“We are expecting (federal) approval to come soon and hope to (put out) the project for bid this spring,” she said.