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Tolling Technology Report Silicon Valley Research Group Technology Disruption in Transportation & Tolling November 2015 The NIOP ( National Interoperability Program) to standardize ABOUT VIEWPOINTS SERIESTM RESEARCH toll facilities throughout the country began when Frank Silicon Valley Research Groupʼs Viewpoints Series™ McCartney, then president of the International Bridge, research studies and reports are designed to provide Tunnel, and Turnpike Association (IBTTA), talked the US in depth analysis and strategic directions too some of House Transportation Committee into committing the toll the most important decisions technology executives need to make in their respective fields. We do not seek industry to delivering IOP and offering up the mid-2016 to replicate or disrupt the work done by syndicated deadline that subsequently was written into federal law. research firms like Gartner, IDC and Forrester. Rather, we delve deeper into the trends using qualitative in- Three toll industry heavyweights the E-ZPass Interagency depth interview techniques that typically comprise Group (IAG), the Alliance for Toll Interoperability and IBTTA smaller sample sizes, and long form exploratory have come together and have begun working toward the goal conversations versus short form surveys. of national toll interoperability. Where possible, we include a global panel, working with a great team of simultaneous translators to enable The IBTTA took the lead on ETC (Electronic Toll Charging) our interviews to take place in multiple languages. One and NIOP and has narrowed the protocol selection down to way to view or work is that while the syndicated firm three options: EZPass TDM/TDMA, TransCoreʼs SeGo, and research that defines WHAT (what is the overall trend), 6C. we seek to answer the HOW (how the industry is adapting and how are players creating market success). While the timeline for selecting and testing of a national protocol is progressing, IBTTA must also address back office We carefully select the topic areas for our studies by technical approaches, marketing, and governance in order to looking at what is trending in social media and what support interoperability. are some of the questions being asked in technology blogs and discussion forums as well what we learn Ultimately, many issues still require resolution before NIOP from attending various conferences and trade-shows. These reports are complementary to those that can be adopted. We study the current status of the NIOP participate in our studies. In addition, our principal legislation (MAP21), discuss the role and activities of the analysts also conduct complementary executive major players, the technology issues and political inertia strategy sessions on our research findings to qualified impacting the initiativeʼs progress. prospective and existing clients and may be arranged by contacting Lee Clements, [email protected]. For more information, please contact: Silicon Valley Research Group Inc. 95 South Market St. Suite 300 San Jose CA 95113 www.siliconvalleyrg.com Silicon Valley Research Group Silicon Valley Research Group Current Landscape of Tolling Technologies Electronic tolling systems currently consist of in-vehicle transponders and license-plate (video) toll recognition systems throughout the United States and Canada. For the last 20 years local, state and regional tolling agencies have been removing cash toll booths and adding overhead gantries with in- vehicle transponder and video detection technology to identify vehicles and process toll payments. These electronic toll payment methods have the advantage of lower costs, reduced congestion and increases convenience by enabling drivers to pass through without stopping. For the interstate traveler and commercial vehicles, however, there is no universal standard technology that extends beyond a regional basis. The frequent interstate traveler must carry multiple transponders and have different payment accounts with the various How did Electronic Toll Collection Evolve? tolling authorities in the areas they travel. And According to IBTTA Electronic Toll Collection began when each the violations for toll charge avoidance are state began building system suited to their specific needs, with substantial; $50 and higher. the price and maintenance being the most important criteria The situation of incompatible tolling systems The first electronic toll system in the U.S., Toll Tag, was installed precipitated the national initiative and in Texas in 1989. Subsequently, New York and New Jersey got legislation to deploy tolling technology that will started with E-ZPass as they were adjacent to each other and facilitate interoperability. The national there was a continuous flow between the locations. Next, requirement calls for all toll facilities on the California and Washington State adopted different systems. Federal-aid highways to implement Florida next picked a technology that become SunPass. Today technologies or business practices that provide thirty-five states have toll roads, bridges, tunnels or causeways. for this interoperability of electronic toll collection programs. Twenty years ago, there was no reason to believe a driver in California would want to use their toll tag in New York. In the The 2012 MAP-21 legislation established a cities, most traffic was only local. Commuters took the place of calendar target (July 2016) by which national long distance travelers that were prevalent in the '50s, '60s and interoperability for electronic toll collection '70s. should exist. The legislation did not address how this should be accomplished, which IBTTA interpreted this as passing the responsibility to the tolling agencies, associations and organizations. Silicon Valley Research Group Goals for North American Toll Interoperability The Law under MAP-21. MAP-21, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (PL 112-141), enacted in July 2012, established new Federal legislative language regarding Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) interoperability as follows; ….all toll facilities on the Federal-aid highways shall implement technologies or business practices that provide for the interoperability of electronic toll collection programs.* IBTTA has stated that North American interoperability will allow drivers to traverse the continent with only a single ETC account with a choice of how to make the payment. The goal is to make interstate travel no more inconvenient that purchasing a meal or making a phone call with their credit card. The initial focus of the national interoperable effort will target registered toll customers that have pre-paid accounts. This will simplify the collection systems and speed up the adoption of participating authorities. The collection organizations would be either based upon peer to peer networks or centralized /regional Hubs. To make *STATUS OF TOLL INTEROPERABILITY Report to this initial effort successful, the limitation of registered the Government Oversight and Reform Committee by customers only is critical. IBTTA IBTTA emphasizes that a registered toll customer of a participating toll agency has the freedom to drive through another toll facility when using their valid pre-paid account regardless of the collection technology; a transponder read or a camera for the license plate. All the participating toll agencies will insure payments for each customer associated with these prepaid accounts. Agencies are responsible for informing the customer that “your toll account works here.” The drivers will be required to have valid account and registered with the IOP participating agency to take advantage of the system. Silicon Valley Research Group The Gantry Infrastructure The Gantry Infrastructure Gantry‐structure: Is used for mounting the transponder‐reader antennas, violation enforcement cameras (rear and sometimes front), camera light fixtures, and vehicle identification lasers. ‐The roadway pavement contains the detection loops, used for vehicle classification and axle counting. ‐The Building: houses the roadside equipment including; lane controllers, servers, DVRs, fiber communications equipment, UPS and the SCADA monitoring equipment. Sometimes they may have an exterior cabinet to house the transponder readers. The site will also have a back‐up emergency generator in case of primary power outages. Source: Electronic Tolling Point Design by FTE Toll Systems and Facilities Silicon Valley Research Group The ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) Systems Electronic toll collection systems rely on four major components: automated vehicle identification, automated vehicle classification, transaction processing, and violation enforcement. 1.Automated vehicle identification Automated vehicle identification (AVI) is the process of determining the identity of a vehicle subject to tolls. The majority of toll facilities record the passage of vehicles through a limited number of toll gates. At such facilities, the task is then to identify the vehicle in the gate area. 2. Automated vehicle classification Automated vehicle classification is closely related to automated vehicle identification (AVI). Most toll facilities charge different rates for different types of vehicles, making it necessary to distinguish the vehicles passing through the toll facility. 3. Transaction processing Transaction processing deals with maintaining customer accounts, posting toll transactions and customer payments to the accounts, and handling customer inquiries. The transaction processing component of some systems is referred to as a "customer service center". In many
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