Daily News Briefs, July 22, 2024

This is a Subscribers-Only area. If you are a subscriber, please login. If not...

Become a Subscriber Today »

TxDOT's Proposed $104.2B Unified Transportation Program Undergoes Review And Comment

TxDOT is accepting public comment on its draft of a 2025 Unified Transportation Program (UTP) through August 5. It proposes $104.2 billion in spending, “making it the second year in a row that the UTP plan exceeds $100 billion.” The department will hold a virtual public hearing on the plan on July 31 at 2:00 PM CDT. The Texas Transportation Commission is scheduled to vote on the plan at its August commission meeting.

Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Texas Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)

Top


Tattile Acquires Comark, Developer Of Vehicle Monitoring Software and Devices

Tattile, the Italy-based provider of camera and application software for automated license plate reader systems, announced its acquisition of Comark, another Italian firm specializing in “laser-based volumetric vehicle measurement and classification for tolling and free-flow tolling applications.” According to the news release, Comark has customers in South America and the APAC region, as well as Europe, and almost a third of its employees are engaged in research and development work. Tattile’s CEO, Corrado Franchi, commented, “The strong similarity in the founding values ​​of both organizations, the same service orientation, and an almost overlapped customer portfolio, make the integration a natural step towards the generation of new high-performance and high-added value systems, based on the unlimited opportunities generated by AI.”

Tattile is a subsidiary of TKH Group.

Acquisitions and Mergers Automated License Plate Recognition ETC Systems Italy Tattile

Top


Atlantic City Expressway Operator Opens E-ZPass Customer Care Center

Last week, the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) announced the opening of a new, walk-up E-ZPass Customer Care Center (CCC) in the in Farley Service Plaza of the Atlantic City Expressway. The facility “will serve as a dedicated hub for drivers looking to effortlessly manage and maximize their E-ZPass experience on the Atlantic City Expressway as well as assist E-ZPass customers in the southern part of the state.” Monday through Friday, motorists can get face-to-face assistance opening or modifying accounts, making payments, resolving violations, and obtaining technical help with devices. SJTA chief executive Stephen Dougherty commented that the center’s opening “marks a significant milestone in our dedication to enhancing customer service as we transition to All-Electronic Tolling (AET) in 2025.”

AET (All-Electronic Tolling) Customer Service Experience E-ZPass ETC Systems New Jersey New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) Service Plazas South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA)

Top


Canada-Minnesota Border Residents Adjust Travel Habits After International Bridge Toll Hike

Fort Frances Times reports, many Canadian residents near the privately held international bridge connecting International Falls, Minnesota, and Fort Frances, Ontario, have adjusted their dining, shopping and social schedules since the cost of a 12-crossing bridge card spiked last fall. Only crossings into Canada are tolled, but many Ontario residents travel to and from the US to take advantage of cheaper fuel and more options for shopping and dining, according to social media posts cited in the article. Friendships, family connections and kids’ activities also lure people across the bridge. But many residents say they’ve severely curtailed their crossings by bundling errands or simply abandoning former habits in order to save money. Some concern about the impact of reduced traffic on Minnesota businesses also is mentioned.

In May, it was reported that a cross-border working group is exploring a public buyout of the span’s current owner, Aazhogan LP, whose members are the Rainy River First Nations government and BMI Group, a property development company.

Canada Economic & Social Considerations Affecting Transportation Ft. Frances-Intl. Falls Crossing (Ontario) (formerly International Bridge) (Aazhogan LP) Minnesota Ontario P3 & Privatization

Top


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.

Top