- Storm Recovery Continues And Costs Mount In Houston
- Ongoing MTA Enforcement Campaign Yields More Arrests And Vehicle Seizures
- Crash-Damaged Hood River Toll Bridge Undergoes Daily Closures For Repairs
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
This is a Subscribers-Only area. If you are a subscriber, please login. If not...
Become a Subscriber Today »
Storm Recovery Continues And Costs Mount In Houston
Blocked roads, limited access to fuel, power outages and sweltering heat are among the complications affecting the Houston metro area as it recovers from Hurricane Beryl, Bloomberg News (via Financial Post) reports. At least seven people were killed during the storm, including six in Texas. According to estimates from AccuWeather Inc., the storm could produce $28 billion to $32 billion in damages and economic losses.
Houston Chronicle continues providing live updates on the hurricane’s aftermath. It notes that a runway at Hobby Airport will be closed briefly today for repairs. The Houston light rail system remains out of service due to widespread power outages.
The Harris County Toll Road Authority said its customer service call center, administrative offices, and EZ TAG Stores will remain closed through today. The agency’s website is available to customers for account management.
Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Houston Metro Area Texas Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)Ongoing MTA Enforcement Campaign Yields More Arrests And Vehicle Seizures
New York’s crackdown on toll scofflaws and “ghost car” owners continued Monday, July 8, at the Bronx Whitestone Bridge, where authorities impounded 55 vehicles, made 13 arrests, and issued 433 summonses, according to a news release issued by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) through the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). It was the twenty-fifth in a series of joint enforcement operations coordinated by MTA police and involving NYPD and several other agencies. All told, the 25 operations have resulted in 1,540 vehicle impounds, 339 arrests, the issuance of 12,007 summonses, and the interdiction of drivers who owe more than $12.5 million in unpaid tolls and fees. “Our heightened enforcement efforts are cracking down on the brazen lawlessness that has gone unchecked for too long, and our message is simple: enough is enough,” Hochul commented. The press release highlights several cases in which drivers stopped for toll evasion were arrested for other crimes or outstanding warrants.
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) Crime Beat Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York City Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) ScofflawsCrash-Damaged Hood River Toll Bridge Undergoes Daily Closures For Repairs
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports, “The Hood River-White Salmon Interstate Bridge will be closed at times again, starting [this week]. After a semi-truck crashed into the bridge’s lift span [on June 27], the bridge was immediately shut down for inspections. Engineers finished [inspections] three days later, and authorized the bridge to reopen to passenger vehicles. But parts of the bridge above the traffic lanes still need repair. After many discussions surrounding another closure, the Port of Hood River announced the bridge would be closed from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day, from [July 8] until July 21. In compliance with the engineers’ recommendations, semi-trucks and larger vehicle access will be restricted.”
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Hood River-White Salmon Bridge Authority (OR & WA) Oregon Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Port of Hood River (Oregon) Washington State Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
If you’re not already a Daily News Briefs subscriber and you want a complete picture of today’s news, click here or call 717-991-2823 for subscription information. If you’re a newcomer to TollRoadsNews.com, click here.