HD25 - Study on Technologies Available for Cost-Effective Toll Collection


    Executive Summary:
    An issue of particular importance and concern in the Commonwealth currently revolves around the transportation infrastructure. An aging infrastructure coupled with a growing population leads to concerns over road maintenance, traffic congestion, and environmental issues. These issues not merely an inconvenience, but also impact current and future economic development in Commonwealth, as well as the safety of drivers on the Commonwealth's vast array of roads and interstates. As traditional sources of transportation funding have not been able to keep pace with transportation infrastructure maintenance and demand, tolling has become an increasingly popular method of transportation funding.

    The 2005 Session of the General Assembly adopted House Joint Resolution 689 (Nixon) to direct the Joint Commission on Technology and Science (JCOTS) to study the technologies available for cost-effective toll collection. The use of emerging technologies, such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), has made electronic tolling not only feasible, but also an attractive toll for congestion management and mitigation.

    JCOTS referred the issue to its Integrated Government Committee, co-chaired by Delegate Samuel A. Nixon, Jr., Delegate Kenneth R. Plum, and Senator Janet D. Howell. A diverse array of representatives from the public and private sector were appointed to the 2005 Advisory Committee membership, including representatives from the office of the Commonwealth's Secretary of Transportation, the Office of the Attorney General, private law firms, private sector technology consultants, and firms specializing in transportation.

    In studying electronic toll collection, the Advisory Committee received several presentations related to tolling in Virginia. Mr. James C. Carr, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for the Commonwealth and member of the Advisory Committee, briefed the Advisory Committee on some of the policy considerations of electronic tolling, including the privacy concerns raised by the significant databases created by electronic tolling and need for strong violations policies. Barbara Reese, Chief Financial Officer at the Virginia Department of Transportation and Virginia's representative with the E-ZPass Interagency Group, updated the Committee about Virginia's membership in the E-ZPass Interagency Group and its implications for tolling technology decisions in the Commonwealth. Mike Zimmerman, Executive Vice-President at Mark IV Industries, and Daniel K. Papiernik, Vice President of Revenue Management Systems with TransCore, both provided an update as the current and future state of electronic tolling technology capabilities. Both Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Papiernik served on the Advisory Committee, and their companies are both at the forefront of tolling technology development and implementation. After the meeting, staff continued to research and compile information related to electronic tolling, based on the direction provided by the Advisory Committee.

    The information collected as a result of the study indicates that electronic tolling offers many efficiencies and benefits that are worthy of consideration. However, in implementing an electronic tolling system, one must be mindful of a few policy issues, such as the need to protect sensitive data, to establish strong violation mechanisms, and to be mindful of changing technology standards. In addition, in Virginia one must be mindful of the membership in the E-Z Pass Interagency Group, which will drive many of the technology-platform decisions relating to tolling in the Commonwealth.

    A full report will be filed at a later date.