Charging, Tolling & RUC

TransCore scoops Miami toll systems contracts

August 1, 2013

TransCore is to convert legacy automatic vehicle identification (AVI) toll systems to SunPass interoperable and toll-by-plate all electronic toll systems on three causeways in Miami-Dade County in the US. The contract, worth around US$13 million, includes the Broad Causeway for the town of Bay Harbor Islands and the Rickenbacker and Venetian Causeways for the Miami-Dade County, all to be operable by spring 2014. For the town of Bay Harbor Islands, TransCore will convert a bi-directional cash toll plaza to

New Hampshire’s Interstate 93 Hooksett Toll Plaza opens for business

July 31, 2013

Nearly 15 million vehicles a year using New Hampshire’s I-93 will enjoy faster travel times, better fuel economy and a safer roadway, following the opening of open road tolling (ORT) at the Hooksett toll plaza. Six traditional toll lanes were removed from the centre of the existing toll plaza to permit installation of an ORT system using Schneider Electric’s SmartMobility tolling solution and remote operations and maintenance system (ROMS).

Virginia presses ahead with tunnels upgrade despite tolls challenge

July 30, 2013

David Crawford reviews current developments and legal/financial issues facing tunnel management in Virginia. This autumn the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) in the US will defend its plan to introduce tolling on the Elizabeth River tunnels linking the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth in the State’s Hampton Roads area. The tolling, which is due to start from February 2014, will be examined by the State’s Supreme Court later this year. The anticipated toll income, along with loans and bonds, is

Kapsch ‘opens the way’ to interoperability

July 30, 2013

Richard Turnock, chief technology officer of Kapsch TrafficCom North America explains what advantages its newly-opened TDM protocol can offer as a US-wide standard for tolling interoperability. The electronic tolling industry across the United States is evolving. Historically it was characterised by clusters of interoperability where a motorist may be able to use the same transponder across a large area, such as the 15-State E-ZPass system, or be confined to a single State system. Now, however, the industry

Financing agreed for Q-Free Jakarta contract

July 30, 2013

Q-Free has confirmed that a loan agreement has been signed between Export Credit Norway and PT Rin Indonesia Jaya, a subsidiary of PT Inovisi Infracom Tbk, for part financing of the contract signed in 2011 for an electronic law enforcement (ELE) project. As part of the financing agreement, PT Inovisi Infracom Tbk has signed a parent company guarantee for the loan. The loan will be released upon initial payment of US$6 million to Q-Free, which will also mark the start-up of the project. The loan from Expor

Geotoll’s payment app could be the smart answer to tolling interoperability

July 30, 2013

Jon Masters looks at a smartphone app which could be the ‘disruptive technology’ that eases the way to interoperability in tolling systems. Consumer demand may soon drive the biggest step change yet in tolling. In the United States a new start-up company, Geotoll, has launched a smartphone app for electronic toll payment. It is not beyond possibility that rapid growth of the market for smartphones will continue – an estimated 50% of US citizens and 80% of Europeans now have one – and that the Geotoll brand

Tollers make way as NextNav muscles into 902-928MHz spectrum

July 30, 2013

Toll operators and Progeny trade claim and counter claim about the potential ramifications of operating in the 902-928MHz spectrum, as Jon Masters finds out. Two months after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) determined that Progeny can start commercial operation of its NextNav location finding service, the dust has begun to settle. The tolling industry has had a chance to reflect on how this may impact its operations, in the knowledge that NextNav will share the 902-928MHz frequency band with RFI

Engineering firm unveils I-70 improvement project

July 29, 2013

International engineering firm Parsons Corp has unveiled its proposed US$3.5 billion project to ease traffic on Interstate 70 through the central mountains in Eagle County, Colorado. Parsons had submitted an unsolicited proposal to Colorado Department of Transportation in 2011. The three-phase project would include tolled express lanes and a bus rapid transit system and be completed as soon as 2021. The express lanes would be reversible to accommodate peak traffic flows to and from the mountains. The proje

Global ETC solution revenues to grow to $8.5 billion by 2018

July 26, 2013

Global electronic toll collection (ETC) systems revenues are expected to grow from US$4.48 billion in 2013 to US$8.5 billion in 2018, with a CAGR of 14 per cent and North America as the vital region., according to a new report from ABI Research, Electronic Toll Collection: A Key Business Driver for ITS and V2I. The study covers types of ETC (highway, urban, and area tolling), ETC technologies (RFID, DRSC, video, and GNSS/cellular), use cases and benefits, as well as an in-depth review of the main implementa

Texas opts for Schneider Electric open road tolling

July 26, 2013

Schneider Electric is to implement its open road tolling (ORT) solution for Cameron County Regional Mobility Authority’s (CCRMA) expansion of the Port Spur SH550 tolling project in Texas, following successful implementation of the first phase in 2011. The project will link Port Spur to US77, allowing vehicles to bypass the city of Brownsville, ultimately reducing traffic congestion in the area. It will also provide a bypass for local traffic heading to South Padre Island, allowing traffic to be rerouted fro