Federal Court Ruling Clears The Way For Rhode Island To Resume Truck Tolling
WJAR reported, “There’s no timeline for turning Rhode Island’s toll gantries back on following a December 6 federal appellate court ruling that said the toll gantries could stay but tolling caps are unconstitutional.” (TRN inserted a link in the quote.)
While the decision, considered a major victory for the state, upheld the constitutionality of its currently suspended, truck-only tolling program, it also invalidated a state provision for daily caps on toll payments. The caps, in the court’s view, gave in-state commercial truck operators a competitive advantage over out-of-state operators.
Governor Dan McKee (D) said state officials will take time to thoroughly review the court opinion before deciding on their next move. “We want to really evaluate the court decision, and that’s being done now and we have to evaluate, you know, the the impact that that it could have on local businesses.” The effect the invalidation of caps would have on in-state businesses is causing some lawmakers to suggest the state should now abandon the tolling scheme.
WJAR noted that the American Trucking Associations, the organization behind the partially rejected constitutional challenge, issued a statement that put the best face on the court ruling. The group’s general counsel, Richard Pianka, stated, “We are pleased that the Court of Appeals agreed with us and the trial court that the RhodeWorks tolls unconstitutionally discriminated against interstate commerce, and are reviewing the decision and considering next steps.”
The minority leader of the Rhode Island House, Representative Michael Chippendale (R-40), told “Land Line” Magazine he sees the ruling as a “very bad deal” for local businesses. He added that his caucus intends to introduce legislation next year to repeal the truck toll program law.
WJAR also provided a timeline of the tolling program lawsuit.
WPRI reported, “The litigation has been closely watched in other parts of the country as states examine ways of generating additional revenue to fund transportation projects.”
FreightWaves reported on the appellate court’s reasoning for finding the toll program — minus daily caps — constitutional.
PANYNJ Adopted $9.4 Billion Budget With Significant Toll Rate Changes
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced that its board of commissioners on Thursday unanimously approved a $9.4 billion 2025 budget that includes increases in bridge and tunnel tolls and rail transit fares. The spending plan allocates $4.1 billion for operating expenses, $3.6 billion for capital projects — the ongoing George Washington Bridge rehabilitation included — and $1.7 billion for debt service and deferred expenses.
PANYNJ executive staff said the toll rate hikes are necessary “to address the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on revenues (loss of $3 billion over the 24-month period of March 2020 through March 2022) and resultant continuing inflationary impacts on operating and capital costs,” and to support continued investment in the “ambitious capital agenda for the agency’s tunnel, bridge, terminal and PATH facilities as laid out in the 2017-2026 Capital Plan.”
As detailed in the announcement, the budget provides for a 25-cent addition to the authority’s automatic, annual, inflation-based toll adjustment for all vehicle classes. (The same increase will occur during the 2026 and 2027 budget years.) Commissioners simultaneously approved several changes to the authority’s existing rate structure that will take effect in July. The adjustments will raise the passenger vehicle toll-by-mail rate to incentivize E-ZPass adoption; introduce new mid-tier toll rates across all vehicle classes for vehicles with improperly mounted New York or New Jersey E-ZPass transponders; and eliminate a discount program of limited scope based on truck transaction volume.
PANYNJ prepared a detailed chart comparing this year’s and next year’s toll rates.
DRJTBC Will End Cash Collection In January
The Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) announced it will stop accepting cash toll payments at 11:00 PM on January 12, 2025, at its four high-volume toll bridges: Trenton-Morrisville (Route 1), I-78, Easton-Phillipsburg (Route 22), and Delaware Water Gap (I-80). These are the last bridges in DRJTBC’s network to still accept cash. The commission launched a cashless conversion in 2019 when the Scudder Falls (I-295) Toll Bridge opened with a highway-speed AET gantry. DRJTBC’s three low-volume toll bridges went cashless in June of this year.
The commission stated its systemwide conversion program will enter a new phase in 2025. “The next step – ‘hard conversion phase’ – will begin . . . with the erection of an overhead gantry of toll tag readers and cameras and the removal of the existing toll-both structure at the New Hope-Lambertville [(Route 202 Bridge]. The plan is for similar hard conversions to be executed at the remaining Commission toll bridges one at a time in each subsequent year, a process currently projected to be completed no later than 2032.”
These are a few of the toll industry developments TRN covered last week. If you’re not a subscriber to Daily News Briefs, click here for a free, 14-day trial. Read the news as it happens every weekday.
Florida DOT Meetings Kicked Off PDE Study Of Proposed Polk County Tollway
Florida DOT and Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) announced that two public meetings held last week kick off a Project Development and Environment Study for its proposal to build the Central Polk Parkway East (FIP Number 451419-1).
According to the project web page, the study “will evaluate alternatives [including no-build] for a new tolled, multi-lane, limited-access highway from US 17/92, south of Power Line Road extension, to the future Poinciana Connector (SR 538).” The proposed facility “will provide a direct link to Interstate 4 and SR 429 (Western Beltway) through the future Poinciana Connector (SR 538)” to accommodate population and traffic growth, improve regional connectivity, and enhance truck mobility in an area with many freight movement facilities.
A project exhibit room is accessible on the FTE website.
CFX Will Conduct Some Impact Studies To Advance Planning For New Toll Road
Osceola News-Gazette reported that the Central Florida Expressway Authority (CFX) has agreed to do “a community impact assessment as well as sound and pollution studies” as it continues to refine the Southwest Connector Expressway project development and environment study. The added evaluations are an outgrowth of CFX discussions with the grassroots organization called Southport Connector Alternate Routes (SCAR).
SCAR was formed to oppose a CFX alternative that would route the new expressway through the central business district of the unincorporated Poinciana community. However, SCAR is reportedly “warming” to the plan thanks to CFX’s willingness to listen to local concerns and suggestions for design adaptations. Further community feedback will be considered as CFX staff prepare the project’s PD&E study for board consideration in late 2025.
TRN reported last month on the CFX outreach to the Poinciana community.
Project Cost Inflation Drives Oklahoma Turnpike Toll Rate Surge
The Oklahoman provided detailed coverage of the toll rate adjustments resolution approved Tuesday by the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA) board. Among other things, the article noted:
- Toll hikes effective January 1 vary by turnpike facility but average 15 percent statewide and range as high as 20 percent in some cases.
- The factor determining each facility’s new rate is the amount of infrastructure improvement it requires according to OTA planning.
- In addition to the January increases, biennial rate hikes of six percent are scheduled to start in January 2027, subject to board approval, and continue indefinitely.
OTA Chief executive Joe Echelle said the increases are “all about ACCESS Oklahoma,” the authority’s controversial expansion initiative. Project cost estimates have ballooned by over $3 billion since the statewide program was unveiled in 2022. Officials say general economic inflation is to blame. Echelle acknowledged last week that the program’s current $8.2 billion budget could shift up or down depending on economic conditions and completion delays.
The Oklahoman article includes a recap of ACCESS Oklahoma and the controversies surrounding it. It also looks at OTA’s recently completed transition to cashless toll collection.
Tulsa World reported, “The OTA is also simplifying its classification of vehicles. Instead of five classifications based on the number of axles, vehicles will either be in the small, medium or large category. Vehicles with two axles will be in the small category. Vehicles with three or four axles will be in the medium category, and vehicles with five or more axles will be classified as large.”
A detailed comparison of current rates and the rates effective in 2025 is attached to the December 10 board meeting agenda, labeled “Exhibit A.”
Oklahoma Voice also covered this story.
Texas State Highway Fund Got $2.74 Billion Boost
“Land Line” Magazine reported, Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar recently completed a $2.74 billion transfer into the State Highway Fund. The Economic Stabilization (“Rainy Day”) Fund will receive the same amount, he said.
State law requires that a portion of the annual severance tax revenues from crude oil and natural gas production in excess of 1987 collection levels be allocated annually for the Highway and Rainy Day funds. According to Land Line, “Highway funds cannot be used to apply revenue for purposes related to a toll facility tied to a public or private entity or to cover bonds issued for costs linked to a toll facility.”
Hegar noted in a news release, “These transfers . . . show the Texas economy remains strong and well positioned for continued growth albeit at a much more moderate pace than what we have seen in recent years.”
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Indra Will Deploy Tolling, ITS and Traffic Management Solutions On Georgia 400 Express Lanes
Indra announced that it will deploy a traffic management platform, communications and intelligent traffic systems, a dynamic operational back-office system, and an open road tolling solution as the technology partner of the SR 400 Peach Partners consortium. In August, Georgia DOT and the State Road and Tollway Authority selected the consortium as the apparent successful proposer for the $4.6 billion SR 400 Express Lanes P3 project in metro Atlanta.
“Indra’s solution will be deployed in the cloud, and it will incorporate advanced technologies to make traffic predictions, enhance vehicle classification, improve efficiency, and reduce maintenance costs.” The Georgia project isn’t the Spanish company’s first US undertaking. Among other things, it provided the 66 Express ORT system in northern Virginia.
North Carolina Turnpike Will Surcharge Toll-By-Mail Customers
In an NCDOT news release, the North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) announced that its annual toll rate increase, effective January 1, 2025, will include a surcharge for drivers who don’t have an NC Quick Pass or compatible transponder account. “As a result, customers with an account will now save 50% on all North Carolina tolls compared to the current 35% savings.” The surcharge reflects the fact that it costs approximately three times more to collect a toll from a customer who chooses to receive an invoice by mail. The additional fee “will more appropriately allocate the higher costs to collect to customers that have chosen not to open an account,” the authority stated.
The news release included a list of steps NCTA has taken to encourage and simplify NC Quick Pass adoption.
WCNC covered this story.
Industry People Made News
After 13 years at the agency and four years at its helm, DelDOT secretary Nicole Majeski will leave her post later this month, Delaware Governor John Carney (D) announced Thursday. Beginning December 21, deputy secretary and chief engineer Shanté Hastings will take over as acting secretary. Ms. Hastings has been a DelDOT staffer and leader for more than 20 years.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker (D) announced Tuesday that he has selected Gia Biagi to serve as the secretary of transportation and Illinois DOT chief pending her confirmation by the Senate. Ms. Biagi replaces Omer Osman, who is retiring after a 35-year engineering career with IDOT. “Biagi joins IDOT after four years of service at the Chicago Department of Transportation. She also served as Principal of Urbanism and Civic Impact at Studio Gang Architects, a Chicago-based architecture and urban design practice, where she advised private- and public- sector clients on urban design, community engagement and land use planning.”
The governor thanked Secretary Osman for his long and dedicated service. The announcement summarizes his numerous accomplishments since assuming IDOT leadership in 2019.
French Motorway Became Country’s First Entirely Barrier-Free Toll Facility
On Tuesday, the A13 motorway connecting Paris and Normandy became the first entirely barrier-free, all-electronic tollway in France. According to The Connexion, “Several operators have introduced these systems on stretches of motorway, however, the 250km [155-mile motorway] from Paris to Caen will be the longest yet.”
To avoid late fees, drivers must pay their tolls within 72 hours. They can pay in advance or after-the-fact on the website of the operator, the Abertis subsidiary Sanef. They also have options to pay at select retail locations across France, or to sign up for a toll tag.
As TRN has previously reported, the A13 is one of many French motorways currently undergoing conversion to all-electronic, open-road (or “multi-lane free flow”) tolling.
The Netherlands’ First Cashless Tollway Opened
The A24-Blankenburg Connection (Blankenburgverbinding), the first all-electronic tollway in the Netherlands, opened Saturday afternoon. The 4.5 kilometer (2.8-mile) highway complex is designed to improve traffic flow around Rotterdam and contribute to the economic development of the city’s port. The toll system is barrier-free.
NL Times reports, the EUR 2.2 billion (USD 2.32 billion) facility, begun in 2018, “includes two tunnels, the new A24 highway, and connections to the existing A15 and A20 routes.” Once a revenue target of EUR 392 million (USD 414 million) is reached, tolls are to be eliminated. “Payments are processed electronically via three private service providers or the e-Tol website. Motorists who fail to pay the toll initially receive a reminder at no additional cost during the first year. From the second year, an 8 euros [USD 8.45] penalty will be added to unpaid tolls.” (TRN inserted a link in quoted text.)
BTS Finds Transportation Costs Impose Heavy Burden On Lowest-Income US Households
Smart Cities Dive highlighted newly released data from USDOT’s Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) on US household transportation spending in 2023. The expense category includes motor vehicle purchases, related vehicle expenses like maintenance, insurance and fuel, and fares for travel by air, train, and bus.
Among other things, the 2023 data reportedly show:
- “Across all income groups, transportation is the second-largest average household cost, behind housing and above food.”
- The lowest-income households spent more of their pre-tax income on transportation than any other income group.
- “Although households with incomes of $28,261 or less spent the least on transportation overall, those expenses consumed nearly 32% of their pre-tax income.”
- “U.S. households spent an average of $13,174 on transportation. . . . , with the largest spending on motor vehicle purchases and related expenses. . . .”
- On average, rural households spent $1,400 more on transportation than did o urban households.