The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association is making further upgrades to TollMiner since last year's rollout of the resource, which offers data management and visualization. The most recent update offers year-over-year traffic and revenue data for all US toll operators, and it allows the tolling industry to present data in a more visual format.
Virginia state senators and delegates introduced legislation this week that proposes tolling Interstate 81 and using the estimated annual $150 million in resulting revenue to improve the highway. Tolls would be 17 cents per mile for trucks and 11 cents per mile for other vehicles, and the six proposed gantries would be 50 miles apart.
The deadline has passed for the West Virginia Parkways Authority's offer of a $24 E-ZPass for three years of unlimited turnpike access, but the authority is still offering $25 one-year unlimited passes. The offer also requires the driver to purchase a $13 transponder.
The Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority, which is handling the construction of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between the US and Canada, is opening new offices in Detroit and Windsor. The authority also has a new website aimed at providing regularly updated information about the project.
Montgomery, Alabama's capital, is the middle of a smart transportation project that includes testing streetlights, free Wi-Fi and app-based parking management. The Smart City Living Lab, in downtown Montgomery, is a public-private partnership.
The federal government's partial shutdown is creating concern among state and local transportation agencies as federal funds remain in limbo, often affecting local agencies the hardest. Some agencies are using their reserves or seeking loans to maintain funding levels, and the shutdown also adds uncertainty to their planning for the spring construction season.
A Connecticut state senator said he would like to see drivers be exempt from highway tolls in the state in cases where a toll is a certain number of miles from an E-ZPass' registration address. He did not say whether the exemptions would be determined based on road miles or another method.
Legislation filed in Virginia would require tolls within a hurricane evacuation area to be put on hold if the governor orders an evacuation. Currently, toll collection in Virginia can be suspended only if authorized during an emergency by the state commissioner of highways.
D.J. Gribbin, former infrastructure adviser to President Donald Trump, said a 2017 executive order is an important move toward easing infrastructure project delays that critics blame on bureaucratic issues. The goal should be to help nonfederal agencies move forward on regionally significant projects that can face delays because of environmental reviews, Gribbin said.
From March 30 through April 2, 2019, IBTTA is headed to Orlando, Fla., for the newly named Annual Technology Summit. Building on years of growing interest and participation, the Technology Summit (most recently known as the AET, Managed Lanes, Interoperability and Technology Summit) will cover an array of new technological applications and business practices that are increasingly being incorporated into tolling operations. Four breakout tracks are planned: Technology, Managed Lanes, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) and the return of the popular Tech Talks. This Summit will engage new participants through partnerships with ITS International MaaS Market, the TRB Committee on Managed Lanes and TRB Committee on Congestion Pricing and the Alliance for Toll Interoperability (ATI). The IBTTA Foundation Golf Tournament, technical tours and pre-meeting topic-based roundtables will all take place in advance of the Summit. At the close of the Summit, ATI and TEAMFL will partner to conduct roundtable sessions followed by TEAMFL's business meeting. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunities for networking with a large exhibit hall and evening events. Get the Tech Talk details and guidelines.
This workshop is an opportunity to explore innovative ideas and best practices for designing, building, maintaining and operating world-class transportation facilities. Topics will be divided among management and technical tracks and will delve into issues such as rapid deployment of projects, designing maintenance requirements into projects from the beginning, setting up day-to-day operational programs, and other practical applications. This meeting will be held June 23 to 25 in Norfolk, Va., home to a large array of tolled facilities, express lanes and other innovative projects. Please submit your ideas by Jan. 31.
