The Transportation Research Board (TRB) notes that more digital communication, energy and utility companies are seeking to use highway right-of-way space for their development projects. “State DOTs [and toll road operators, too] are investigating the use of compensation structures in exchange for accommodating these utilities, and are seeking approaches and valuation methods to set fees.” TRB will host a webinar next Wednesday afternoon, April 24, to “present a range of approaches to consider for setting compensation structures for utility accommodations.” The presentation will be based on two National Cooperative Highway Research Program documents, NCHRP Research Report 1053: Valuation and Compensation Approaches in Utility Accommodation: A Guide and NCHRP Web-Only Document 359: Valuation and Compensation for Accommodating Utility and Communications Installations in Public Rights-of-Way. Participants will learn how to determine right-of-way value and explore different approaches to setting compensation structures.
Public
ViaPlus Will Manage Peach Pass Transaction Processing And Customer Service For SRTA
ViaPlus, the VINCI Highways subsidiary, announced this afternoon that Georgia’s State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA) has chosen the firm to manage toll transaction processing and customer service over a term of seven years. ViaPlus will “implement and maintain a Customer Service System that includes a cloud-based back-office; self-service channels for customers to manage their toll accounts via website, app, and chat; and advanced reporting. The new system will support the increase in SRTA’s free-flow transactions that are projected to reach 30M by 2030. The ViaPlus system will also process Peach Pass transactions . . . in the E-ZPass toll network and interface with the Central US Interoperability Hub.” SRTA oversees tolling of 66 miles of express lanes in metro Atlanta, as well as Georgia’s interoperable Peach Pass electronic toll system. The 788,000 Peach Pass account holders can pay Atlanta airport parking fees and the highway tolls charged in 18 US states, in addition to Atlanta express lane fees. ViaPlus noted, SRTA’s mobility network “generated 29M free-flow transactions in 2023.”
Truck Sends New Jersey Turnpike Wall Crashing Down On City Street
CBS News New York reports, last night, a commercial truck overturned on a New Jersey Turnpike overpass in Elizabeth near the Newark airport knocking out a section of noise wall that crumbled onto the adjoining city street. Although some pedestrians were in the area, no injuries were reported. “Turnpike officials said it took more than six hours to get that part of the southbound side of the highway back open. They also said the investigation into what caused the truck to overturn continues.” Because maintenance crews worked through the night and early morning to clear debris and remove two other unstable wall panels, this morning’s peak-period traffic flow was not affected.
NJ.com (subscription required) also covers this story.
Houston Chronicle Launches Online Highway Construction Tracker
Houston Chronicle (subscription may be required) yesterday introduced an article format designed for tracking metro Houston’s 11 major highway construction projects. The clarity and comprehensiveness of the presentation is so unique, in TRN’s view, that the article deserves special attention. The Chronicle pledges to maintain the format and keep the project information updated. If it follows through, the task of tracking the history, scope, cost and progress of TxDOT, Houston METRO and Harris County Toll Road Authority projects will become much simpler.
The projects are categorized and color-coded by when they’re expected to be finished. A table graphic incorporates hyperlinks to a profile of each project, including its high-level focus, a succinct description, a high-level recap of anything noteworthy about its progress, a timeline, a budget graphic, links to related newspaper articles and an image gallery. A static map of the project’s route is one of the included images.
Colorado DOT Expects Fall Opening Of Affordable Housing Project For Employees
CBS News Colorado reports, some Colorado DOT workers could move into new affordable housing the agency is co-developing on the I-70 corridor by September or October. CDOT and the town of Frisco, which are jointly funding development of the 22-unit Granite Park apartment complex, will divide the facility rental rights. The department seeks local housing for its crew members who keep the corridor open during winter storms, and the city hopes the affordable rentals will draw workers who couldn’t otherwise afford to live in pricey Summit County. Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) said the project aligns with his vision for affordable housing statewide, especially in tourist destinations where essential workers often can’t afford to live. CDOT, in particular, is hoping the housing will improve worker retention, as well as response times during winter emergencies.