Skip to main content

Australian tolling industry debates tag replacement

Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference (NeTC) inspired lively debate among the 130 delegates about tackling the need to replace seven-plus million tolling tags that are reaching the end of their life. In his opening address, Australian Toll Road Users’ Group Chair Rex Wright said the industry was potentially facing a US$94 million bill over the next five years to replace old tags. As Australian tolling authorities operate a harmonious national tag system, all toll operators are committed
June 11, 2014 Read time: 3 mins
Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference (NeTC) inspired lively debate among the 130 delegates about tackling the need to replace seven-plus million tolling tags that are reaching the end of their life.

In his opening address, Australian Toll Road Users’ Group Chair Rex Wright said the industry was potentially facing a US$94 million bill over the next five years to replace old tags. As Australian tolling authorities operate a harmonious national tag system, all toll operators are committed to a unified national approach, consistent with the current interoperability.

The debate included discussions on the many tolling models in use worldwide, including: the 7641 EROAD GNSS/cellular electronic road user charging system for both heavy and light vehicles in New Zealand and Oregon, USA; the ‘go via’ integrated payment model used by 821 Queensland Motorways which integrates five separate pieces of infrastructure to eliminate back office duplication and improve the customer experience; the SunToll TollAssist application for mobile which provides an alternative to toll tags; and 108 Q-Free’s video recognition, which the company says is achieving up to 98 per cent recognition of licence plates in Taiwan.

Delegates also heard from WestConnex Delivery Authority acting director Commercial and Procurement, Matt Webb, who reported on Sydney’s recently launched WestConnex expressway and the complications of rolling out a toll road over multiple phases with the potential for multiple concessions to fit with government funding and construction timelines.

New 796 Transmax chief executive officer Jamie Smith highlighted the value of the Streams ramp metering technology to help toll road operators reduce congestion, maximise traffic flow and improve safety to increase revenue.

Overseas project case studies included the Brazilian interoperability free flowing tolling experience presented by Schneider; the South African Gauteng Open Road Tolling project outlined by 4984 Kapsch TrafficCom Australia; and the I-595 Express Corridor in Florida, USA explained by 6770 SICE, which said the reversible express lanes impose variable toll rates according to peak travel times, which optimises use of the road and revenue to the owner.

858 ITS Australia chief executive officer Susan Harris said the forum continues to reflect the maturity of the tolling industry in Australia. “A great diversity of industry partners and competitors come together to share learning and explore common challenges at NeTC,” she said.

“Many delegates remarked with surprise at the openness and willingness of the speakers to share information with peers in this highly competitive market. Case studies and update reports on dozens of tolling projects based in Australia and overseas were presented.

“Conference themes included patronage analysis and behaviour, emerging technologies, enforcement and compliance. As a result of the growing number of tolling applications in individual cities, a popular and valuable topic was increasing back office efficiency,” said Harris.

Related Content

  • September 12, 2014
    Australia faces tough choices over toll tags
    With more than seven million tolling tags nearing the end of their life, delegates to ITS Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference had more than a passing interest debating possible ways forward. Rex Wright, chair of the Australian Toll Road Users’ Group, said the industry was potentially facing an AUD$100million bill over the next five years but the toll operators are committed to a unified national approach, consistent with the current interoperability.
  • June 20, 2013
    Australian Intelligent Transport Systems Summit 2013
    Australia will welcome international experts working at the leading edge of intelligent transport systems to speak at the ITS Summit to be held at the Australian Technology Park in Sydney from 18 to 20 September 2013. The international input will add value to progress the Summit's key objective to formulate a national vision for ITS in Australia. ITS Australia Chief Executive Officer Susan Harris said the aim is to define a plan with a core set of transport priorities broadly acknowledged across all governm
  • January 31, 2012
    Australian road pricing, road funding needs more debate
    Everyone in the road transport industry in Australia is talking road pricing - everyone, that is, except the politicians. Christine Keyes reports. At the end of 2008, Australia's road transport industry was wringing its collective hands, unable to raise more than $100 million from an individual bank for any Public Private Partnership (PPP). The A$750 million Peninsula Link project, announced by the Victoria Government in March 2009, was the first road project in the country to be put out to market as an ava
  • February 22, 2013
    Sydney’s RMS opts for Schneider Electric back office toll technology
    Schneider Electric is to use its expertise and experience in developing and implementing free-flow toll system management solutions and electronic toll payment solutions in the design, supply and installation of the tolling system back office for Australia’s New South Wales Government's Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). RMS is a delivery arm of Transport for NSW and is responsible for building and maintaining roads, conducting driving tests, issuing licences and registrations and overseeing harbours and wa