The Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) issued a news release announcing that its transition to a cashless collection system got off to a smooth start early this morning. “We’re pleased with how quickly the task of converting the roadway occurred,” said Bruce Meisch, KTA’s cashless tolling project manager and technology director. “As planned, converting our back-office and preparing the new toll payment system, DriveKS and its accompanying mobile app, will take just a bit more time.” Until July 8, authority customer service centers are closed and the KTAG websites and mobile app are unavailable as technicians complete June billing in the old system and transfer data to the new DriveKS system. By the end of this month, tollbooth demolition and lane reconfiguration work — an 18-month-long process to make travel even more convenient and safer — will begin. KTA chief executive Steve Hewitt thanked the authority’s manual collection staff, commenting, “They not only collected tolls but were a friendly face for many customers” over the past 68 years. “Their legacy of kindness and outstanding service will live on in many ways here at KTA,” he said.
Yesterday, in an op-ed column provided to The Topeka Capital-Journal, Mr. Hewitt explained why cashless conversion is a necessary “risk” that KTA has worked long and hard to undertake. He said safety — the elimination of stop-and-go traffic at tollbooths — and the advance of tolling technology were prime considerations, but timing was also a decisive factor.
WIBW covers today’s collection system transition.