- Austin Toll Roads Traffic Boom Expected to Produce $70 Million More Than Needed for Debt Service
- New Riverside County (CA) Toll Lanes Are So Popular Officials Are Raising Peak Travel Rates
- GDOT's Northwest Corridor Project Delayed by I-85 Bridge Collapse
- Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Readies RFP for New Toll System
- Two Rockaways Bridges Go Cashless
- PA Turnpike Launches Cashless Tolling on the Beaver Valley Expressway
- Judge Allows Longmeadow Parkway Work to Resume
- More on FDOT's Study of New, Jacksonville I-95 Express Toll Lanes
- Ruckus over Potential Routes of TCA Tollway Extension
- Brazoria County (TX) Commissioners Award $91.7 Million Toll Project Contract
- WSDOT's New I-405 Shoulder Lane Is Speeding Commutes
- Despite ERC Efforts to Improve Service, The Virginian-Pilot Says State Must Consider Nixing Tunnel Contract
- NY State Bridge Authority Begins Newburgh Bridge Repairs in Anticipation of North Span Deck Replacement
- WV Lawmaker Promises to Keep up Push to Eliminate Turnpike Tolls
- I-77 Express Opponents Hold Rally
- Bay Area Columnist Argues that Elected Bodies or Voters Should Make Decisions about Tolling Expansion and VMT
- Driver Rolls Car and Pushes Airbag Away to Pay His Toll, Prompting, Well, Head-Scratching
- PANYNJ Police Arrest Scofflaw with 268 Violations, $17,000 in Unpaid Tolls and Fines
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Austin Toll Roads Traffic Boom Expected to Produce $70 Million More Than Needed for Debt Service
Austin American-Statesman reports that each of four toll roads in the Austin area operated by TxDOT — the northern 49 miles of SH 130, SH 45 North, SH 45 Southeast, and Loop 1 (MoPac Boulevard north of Parmer Lane) — “this fiscal year is seeing appreciable year-over-year usage and revenue growth, and “after having sparse traffic when they first opened a decade ago, have seen steadily increasing use.” The newspaper adds, “The system is projected to make about $70 million more this fiscal year than is owed in debt service payments.”
Austin (TX) Metro Area Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)New Riverside County (CA) Toll Lanes Are So Popular Officials Are Raising Peak Travel Rates
The Press-Enterprise reports, “The new 91 toll lanes through Corona have proven popular with commuters since they opened last month — so popular that officials have raised rates for a few peak times. During the heaviest commute time — Friday afternoon for drivers returning east from Orange County — the highest price for using the combined 91 Express Lanes through Riverside and Orange counties is now $20.85 during the 3 o’clock hour. Some drivers aren’t happy with the climbing rates. . . .”
California Express Lanes Riverside County (CA) Transportation Commission (RCTC)GDOT's Northwest Corridor Project Delayed by I-85 Bridge Collapse
Marietta Daily Journal reports that the March burning and collapse of an I-85 bridge in Atlanta will delay completion of GDOT’s Northwest Corridor I-75/I-575 reversible managed lanes project by several months. According to the report, the department “has been reluctant to shut down lanes required for the managed lanes’ construction” because of congestion on other major routes resulting from the bridge collapse.
Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) State Road and Tollway Authority (GA)Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Readies RFP for New Toll System
Boca Beacon reports that Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority staff are “currently working on a draft request for proposal for a new toll system. The GIBA board voted to include data-collecting equipment and software for an upgraded security camera system that captures and stores vehicle identification information . . . in the RFP. The RFP is expected to be reviewed and approved for distribution at the June 28th board meeting.” The article adds that that the authority’s financial statements show that its “cash position remains strong as reserves are being accumulated for an initial prepayment on the SunTrust Bank loan at the end of this summer. . . . Revenue is up four percent vs. budget, and expenses are down 16 percent.”
Florida Gasparilla Island Bridge AuthorityTwo Rockaways Bridges Go Cashless
Daily News reports, “Cashless tolls will go into operation early Sunday [April 30] at the two bridges leading in and out of the Rockaways, Gov. Cuomo announced [over the weekend].” In a news release, Cuomo said, “Cashless tolling will reduce congestion, improve safety and streamline commutes on these vital arteries, providing much-needed relief to the Rockaway community and ensuring smooth travel during the summer season.”
Spectrum News NY1 reports that the transition took place on schedule on the two MTA bridges, the Cross Bay-Veterans Memorial and the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial.
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) New York New York CityPA Turnpike Launches Cashless Tolling on the Beaver Valley Expressway
KDKA reports, “Beginning Sunday [April 30], you won’t be able to use cash on the Beaver Valley Expressway. The Pennsylvania Turnpike is trying out a cashless tolling system. Cashless tolling allows all Toll 376 customers to pay without stopping at the toll plazas.”
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC)Judge Allows Longmeadow Parkway Work to Resume
Daily Herald reports, “Construction work on the Longmeadow Parkway can restart immediately after a judge’s refusal [on April 28] to extend the temporary restraining order that silenced heavy equipment on the 5.6-mile roadway and possible toll bridge more than a week ago.” The federal judge ruled that project opponents failed to show that construction “poses a significant threat” to the habitat of the endangered rusty-patched bumblebee.
Illinois Kane County (IL) DOTMore on FDOT's Study of New, Jacksonville I-95 Express Toll Lanes
WJCT reports “The Florida Transportation Department is studying the feasibility of adding express toll lanes on I-95 in both directions between J. Turner Butler Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.” The report adds, “If the project is approved, construction is expected to start in the year 2022. The interior lanes would be added to existing lanes, requiring a widening of the road.”
Express Lanes Florida Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)Ruckus over Potential Routes of TCA Tollway Extension
The Orange County Register reports that TCA’s partial sponsorship of the San Clemente Ocean Festival, “a beloved local institution for four decades,” has sparked a protest.” Growing numbers of San Clemente residents fear that the TCA, which is studying South Orange County mobility options, will try to carve a toll road through town. . . .”
California Transportation Corridor Agencies (CA)Brazoria County (TX) Commissioners Award $91.7 Million Toll Project Contract
Brazosport Facts (subscription required) reports, “[Brazoria] County commissioners this week awarded a bid to Pulice Construction, Inc. of Phoenix, Arizona, for the $97.17 million construction of the Brazoria County portion of the Highway 288 tollway project.” The newspaper adds that the project includes construction of four toll lanes through the existing highway median. “It is part of a larger project that crosses into Harris County, where toll roads will stretch north to Highway 59.”
Express Lanes Texas Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)WSDOT's New I-405 Shoulder Lane Is Speeding Commutes
The Herald reports, “A new shoulder lane helped speed the evening commute on I-405 in its first week. . . . [WSDOT] on April 24 opened up 1.8 miles of the right-hand shoulder, from Highway 527 to the I-5 interchange. Drivers can use the shoulder when [remotely controlled] electronic signs indicate it’s OK.”
Washington State Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)Despite ERC Efforts to Improve Service, The Virginian-Pilot Says State Must Consider Nixing Tunnel Contract
The Virginian-Pilot editorial board acknowledges the Hampton Roads tunnel toll relief programs and the efforts of new ERC chief Phil Shucet to improve customer service. However, after delving into the history of the tunnel system franchise, it concludes that the state “must consider terminating the contract and paying what is certain to be a massive settlement to end this catastrophe once and for all.”
Elizabeth River TunnelsNY State Bridge Authority Begins Newburgh Bridge Repairs in Anticipation of North Span Deck Replacement
Times Herald-Record reports, “The New York State Bridge Authority is embarking on a series of maintenance and repair projects at and around the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge in a run-up to the replacement of the north span’s deck in 2020-21.”
New York New York State Bridge Authority (NYSBA)WV Lawmaker Promises to Keep up Push to Eliminate Turnpike Tolls
Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports, “Del. Marty Gearheart, R-Mercer County, is not giving up on his fight to eliminate tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike. ‘The current trend of local groups supporting extension of tolls on the West Virginia Turnpike is troubling,’ he said, referring to a recent resolution from the Beckley City Council in support of keeping the tolls. That resolution was requested by the Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce.”
West Virginia West Virginia Parkways Authority (West Virginia Turnpike)I-77 Express Opponents Hold Rally
WCNC reports, “For the third year in a row, demonstrators in Cornelius called for an end to the controversial I-77 toll lane project, that is already underway. The demonstrators, carrying signs opposing the project, stood on the Exit 28 bridge over the highway where construction work is underway on the lanes below.”
I-77 Express Lanes (NC) North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT)Bay Area Columnist Argues that Elected Bodies or Voters Should Make Decisions about Tolling Expansion and VMT
Marin Independent Journal columnist Dick Spotswood argues that issues as significant as expanding highway tolling or imposing a VMT fee in the San Francisco Bay Area should be decided by directly elected officials or a referendum, not by agencies such as the Bay Area Air Quality Management District or the Metropolitan Transportation Commission.
California Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC)Driver Rolls Car and Pushes Airbag Away to Pay His Toll, Prompting, Well, Head-Scratching
Detroit Free Press carries one of those stories that can only be described as a head-scratcher. “A driver on his way to Toronto to catch a flight continued on his trip after rolling his vehicle [and landing wheels down] on Interstate 94 about three miles west of Port Huron. . . .” Blue Water Bridge toll collectors summoned police when the car arrived at the toll plaza with broken mirrors and deployed airbags. (The driver had to push an airbag out of the way so collectors could talk to him.) Police impounded the car because of the damages, and allowed the man to continue across the bridge to the airport in a taxi.
Federal Bridge Corporation Ltd. (Canada) Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)PANYNJ Police Arrest Scofflaw with 268 Violations, $17,000 in Unpaid Tolls and Fines
NJ.com reports that port authority police arrested a 25-year-old Bronx man for jumping the George Washington Bridge toll and discovered that he allegedly owes $17,480 in tolls and fees resulting from 268 violations.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) Scofflaws