Charging, Tolling & RUC

Debating contactless toll charging by smartphone

April 25, 2012

Developments in the mass transit sector could provide indicators of potential for greater use of mobile consumer electronic devices for charging and tolling, according to Consult Hyperion’s Mike Burden. However, opinion among toll system suppliers is divided. Jason Barnes reports The combination of mass-market devices and their protocols, typified by smartphones featuring near field communication (NFC), points to some exciting cross-fertilisation possibilities in the charging and tolling sector, says Consul

TagMaster heavy-duty ID-tags for mainline rail project in China

April 23, 2012

Sweden-headquartered RFID specialist TagMaster has received an order from Richor, the company’s premium Chinese distributor, to supply 10,000 Heavy-duty ID-tags. These customised 2.45 GHz ID-tags form part of several equipment orders relating to the Letter of Intent announced in May 2011, which covers the joint development of an RFID system for use on mainline railways in China.

Mostotrest and Kapsch TrafficCom form JV

April 20, 2012

Leading Russian diversified transport infrastructure construction company Mostotrest and Kapsch TrafficCom have formed a joint venture, United Tolling Systems, to develop the strategy for the introduction of intelligent motorway management systems. Media reports suggest that the partners intend to bid jointly for the construction of a toll road in southern Russia.

The case for tolling the Interstates

April 20, 2012

Speaking at an event organised by the IBTTA last week to an audience of federal and state transportation officials, policy experts, financial analysts, and representatives from engineering firms, technology companies, and transportation facility operators, Ed Regan of Wilbur Smith Associates articulated a clear case for giving states flexibility to toll existing interstate highways.

Truck ban eases traffic congestion in Jakarta city

April 20, 2012

A pilot project which began last month and which saw trucks banned on toll roads in Jakarta city, Indonesia, has produced dramatic results. The ban helped to cut traffic congestion in the city by 40 per cent, while average speeds rose from 15-20 km/h before the ban to 60-80 km/h.

Puerto Rico deals

April 19, 2012

The authorities in Puerto Rico awarded a contract to a consortium for two toll roads under a 40 year deal. The joint venture partnership comprises Spanish firm Abertis and Goldman Sachs' GS Global Infrastructure Partners II. The deal concerns the 83km PR22 road and the 8km PR5 road. The PR22 link is a major route with up to 10 lanes at its widest point while the urban PR5 road runs from PR22 to the western suburbs of San Juan.

RFQ for Knik Arm Crossing toll bridge in Alaska

April 19, 2012

The Knik Arm Bridge and Toll Authority (KABATA) has issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for concessionaires to design, construct, finance, operate and maintain the Knik Arm Crossing under an availability payment public-private partnership. Statements of Qualifications (SOQ) are due 15 September, 2011 at 4:00PM Alaska Daylight Saving Time. The RFQ can be downloaded at http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf or interested parties can receive the RFQ by contacting Michele Casey at michele.casey@alaska

Key Russian PPP project

April 18, 2012

The Northern Capital Highway (NCH) consortium has been named the preferred bidder in the tender for the central section of St Petersburg’s Western High-Speed Diameter (WHSD) project. Should NCH win the tender process it will build and then operate the entire stretch of the toll road. The consortium comprises VTB Capital and Gazprombank from Russia in partnership with Italian company Astaldi and Turkish firm Ictas Insaat.

Call for truck tolls on Austria’s rural highways

April 18, 2012

The Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) which is the principal organisation in the country working for environmentally sustainable, socially just, and economically efficient mobility, has called for the introduction of truck tolls for rural highways. The organisation says that trucks wear down roads 35,000 times more than cars and also claims that in 2010 truck transport caused road infrastructure-related costs of US$4.78 billion but it paid only $3.46 via tolls and taxes.

Slovakia/Austria toll system may be interconnected

April 17, 2012

Motorway toll systems of Slovakia and Austria may be interconnected as part of the planned European interoperability. Operators of the national systems, SkyToll of Slovakia and Asfinag of Austria, have expressed interest in cooperation, saying that they will hold further, more detailed negotiations. SkyToll claims that the satellite system in Slovakia is ready for interoperability with the systems of the neighbouring countries and any changes can be implemented quickly.