Time to Phase Out Toll Booths

This article discusses fully automated toll roads, also called cashless toll roads. The author briefly describes a project in Santiago, Chile, that consists of four major expressways which will eventually be the first fully automated urban tollway system. The fully automated toll collection is largely based on transponders (about 90% of users), but nontransponder users can purchase a day-pass. A violator is offered the opportunity to buy a "late day pass" and if that opportunity is not exercised, is fined $50. The author goes on the describe a similar model used for the past 5 years in Melbourne, Australia; a different style of open-road tolling in Toronto, Canada; and HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes in California, Texas, and Minneapolis. The author then addresses some of the concerns about fully phasing out all toll booths. These include the role of the toll collectors' unions, transponder penetration, transponder standardization, interoperability, and how to handle rural or occasional users. The author concludes with a brief discussion of the benefits of implementing cashless tolling, which include reduced costs, time savings to customers, and reduced emissions output from waiting in line.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/19598638
• Authors:
  • Poole Jr, Robert W
• Publication Date: 2005-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Print
• Pagination: pp 23-24
• Serial:
  • Public Works Financing
  • Volume: 195
  • Publisher: Public Works Financing
  • ISSN: 1068-0748

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Automated toll collection; Automatic vehicle identification; High occupancy toll lanes; Rate, fare and toll collection; Toll booths; Transponders
• Geographic Terms: Melbourne (Australia); Santiago (Chile); Toronto (Canada)
• Subject Areas: Economics; Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Society; Terminals and Facilities; I72: Traffic and Transport Planning;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01002746
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 29 2005 9:18AM