Public

Maryland Opened I-95 Express Lanes Extension

The Baltimore Sun reported, on Wednesday, the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) opened the I-95 Express Toll Lanes (ETL) Northbound Extension after five years of construction. According to an MDTA news release, the new facility “spans from White Marsh Boulevard (MD 43) to Mountain Road (MD 152), providing an additional 6.5-miles of existing lanes and allowing drivers a reliable travel option, especially during peak travel times.” Variable toll rates (peak, off-peak, and overnight) apply across the entire I-95 ETL. A rate chart included in the announcement displays the extension’s rates.

MDTA noted that the extension — it nearly doubles the length of the express lanes — “include[s] state-of-the-art electronic tolling technology, updated signage for ease of navigation and additional entry and exit points for driver convenience.” It also “incorporates improved lighting, advanced stormwater management and safety features designed to meet the latest environmental standards.”

Illinois Tollway Board Approved 2025 Budget And New $2 Billion Capital Plan

On Thursday, the Illinois Tollway Authority board approved a balanced 2025 budget based on projected annual revenue of $1.72 billion, an increase of 4.2 percent over 2024, and including a $1.15 billion capital spending commitment. Details on the spending plan are included in an authority news release and an earlier TRN article on the release of the budget proposal. The final budget is being prepared for posting on the Tollway website. The 2025 Tentative Budget Book and a budget presentation slide deck are currently accessible.

A separate news release announced the board’s December 19 approval of a new seven-year, $2 billion capital program dubbed “Bridging the Future.” The plan complements ongoing infrastructure projects and “serve[s] as a bridge between the Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future capital program and the needs of the agency’s next long-term capital program.” The plan “is a smart and balanced approach that ensures the completion of critical improvements as we continue the engagement necessary to advance our long-term capital planning process,” said board chair Arnie Rivera. (TRN inserted a link.)

Funding for Bridging the Future “is not expected to require any adjustments in the Illinois Tollway’s current tolling structure nor any additional debt financing beyond that already planned for the Move Illinois Program.”

Bridging the Future projects include:

• Interchange design and construction work to connect existing Tollway facilities and a Tri-State Tollway bridge improvement project ($258 million).
• Bridge reconstruction and “strategic widening projects” on the Tri-State and Reagan Memorial Tollways ($725 million).
• Investments in systemwide improvements and maintenance, including for bridge repairs, pavement rehabilitation, and toll plaza upgrades ($532 million).
• Technology investments in active traffic management, back-office system improvements, and funding for pilot programs and studies ($485 million.)

MTA Board Approved FY 2025 Budget And Five-Year Financial Plan

amNY reported, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) board, at its December 19 meeting, unanimously approved a final, consolidated 2025 budget and four-year (2025-2028) financial plan. The financial blueprints are based on proposals submitted for board and public review last month. MTA’s operating budget alone is $19.9 billion. Transit fare and toll hikes due to take effect next summer are included in the budget. “The exact amount of the increases has yet to be announced but could go into effect in August 2025. In recent years, the MTA approved 4% increases in fares and tolls.”

MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the authority is ending 2024 “on a high note,” and added he is optimistic about making progress in 2025 on achieving goals including transit ridership recovery, maintaining financial stability, and keeping the capital program on track.

Newsday (subscription required) reported that yesterday’s vote authorized MTA staff to initiate steps for introducing toll and fare hikes. MTA will hold public hearings prior to the board voting on increases. Bridge and tunnel tolls were last adjusted, by approximately 6 percent, in 2023. Lieber said the authority’s practice of raising rates by small percentages every two years means higher, urgent increases that can be burdensome are avoided. “MTA Chief Financial Officer Kevin Willens said the agency’s operating budget would be 3.1% higher than the 2024 budget, but when adjusted for inflation, the costs are 3% lower than they were in 2019. That’s been accomplished, in part, through $500 million in annual cost cutting, Willens said.”

The December meeting board book has detailed information about the budget and financial plan at PDF pages 58-180. Bridges and Tunnels division budget details can be found at pages 66-75.

Caltrans Study Of Proposal To Convert I-5 HOV Lanes To HOT Lanes Nears Completion

The Orange County Register (via MSN.com) reported, Caltrans is working on completing its environmental study of a proposal to convert 15.5 miles of I-5 (Santa Ana Freeway) HOV lanes into tolled express lanes. The existing lanes run between Tustin, Orange County, and the Los Angeles County line.

Draft studies indicate that nearly half the corridor’s HOV lanes in both directions already have demand nearing or exceeding authorized capacity during peak travel periods, and the congestion is expected to get worse over the next three decades. Caltrans projects that the proposed conversion would save motorists “1.1 million person-hours of delay annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

Several alternatives are under consideration in the study. “Some would create two express lanes in areas where there is only a single HOV lane now, and one would just up the [existing] HOV requirement to three people and not add the express lanes. Though costlier, one plan looks at adding a second express lane on the 5 Freeway from the 57 to the 91 freeways.”

Caltrans estimates the project would cost up to $432 million, depending on the alternative chosen. In November, it applied for a $100 million California Transportation Commission grant. If the project gets final approval, construction could start as soon as July 2026. A full-scale lane conversion is expected to take three years.

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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.

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Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Operator Issued Toll System Replacement RFI

The Greater New Orleans Expressway Commission, operator of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, issued a Request for Information to qualified vendors with an interest in replacing and converting the causeway’s existing toll collection system. The RFI addresses submission and evaluation guidelines, and any questions may be directed by email to Melissa Phillpott at melissa@gnoec.org.

According to the RFI, responses are due on or before February 7, 2025. The opportunity for a prior on-site or virtual interview is available by arrangement with GNOEC.

Expanded Tolling Of VDOT’s I-66 Inside The Beltway Lanes Gets Consideration

FFXnow reported, expanding the hours of I-66 inside the beltway tolling is one of 15 options under consideration by Northern Virginia leaders studying options for establishing dedicated funding of metro DC regional transit services. The range of options developed by two separate groups was recently presented to the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC), the state agency tasked with overseeing transit funding and operations in suburban DC communities.

Consultants working for a state legislative subcommittee, one of the study groups, will prepare “preliminary revenue expectations for each of the 15 options” that are due next summer. “The subcommittee will consider the options and make preliminary recommendations around September, finalizing them two months later. A report will be presented to the General Assembly at the end of 2025.”

WJLA reported, the tolling proposal “has raised eyebrows” because of media reports about the high levels toll rates can reach on the VDOT facility and the nearby 66 Express concession, both of which have dynamic tolling systems.

Bay Area Authority Approved Future Bridge Toll Increases And HOV Policy Change

Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) board members, sitting as the Bay Area Toll Authority (BATA), approved a toll rate increase plan for the region’s seven state-owned bridges on Wednesday.

The rate adjustment, first offered for public review in October, will be phased in over five years, beginning January 1, 2026. In addition to boosting rates, BATA established separate rate tiers for customers using different payment methods, a change that will take effect in 2027. Another change approved by the board standardizes policies on high-occupancy vehicle use of the bridges. Officials say the additional toll revenue will enable BATA to avoid borrowing money to keep up with bridge maintenance, the cost of which is skyrocketing.

In a letter to the editor of The Mercury News, an ad hoc coalition of taxpayer and transportation advocacy organizations had urged the board to reject the toll hikes. The groups asserted that BATA should reform financial practices and “appoint an independent inspector general to serve as an internal auditor and investigator, like Caltrans, BART and New York MTA now have.”

Virginia DOT May Extend Powhite Tollway Without Relying On Toll Financing

Virginia DOT is conducting an environmental study of a proposal to extend that segment of the Powhite Parkway (SR 76) that it tolls and maintains. (The project doesn’t involve the adjoining tollway section operated by the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority.) Providing congestion relief and enhanced regional connectivity between Woolridge Road and US 360 in Chesterfield County would be the twin aims of the proposed multiphase construction project. VDOT held a public meeting last month to introduce the project and obtain feedback on several conceptual alignments.

Last week, the parkway and its extension were topics of public discussion by county officials. As Richmond Times-Dispatch reports, they said they are working with VDOT to eliminate the toll at the parkway’s western terminus as soon as construction debt obligations are satisfied, which could happen in 2026. For that reason, officials need to find an alternative to toll revenue to pay for the proposed extension project. “We do not want any more capital financing,” the county administrator told a chamber of commerce audience. “We are figuring out how to [finance the extension] so that we can have the bonds expire and then the toll booth removed.”

TTEC Laid Off 650 Workers Following TxTag Customer Service Transition To HCTRA

About 650 employees of TTEC Government Solutions, the Colorado-based “customer experience” services company, received a federally mandated WARN notice that they are being laid off, MySanAntonio.com reported. The action follows the November expiration of TTEC’s contract with TxDOT for TxTag customer service. The Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) has since taken over all TxTag billing and customer service for TxDOT facilities in the Austin and Houston metro areas.

According to the notice, most of the workers affected are customer service agents but about 150 have operations leadership, workforce management, or quality assurance jobs. A TTEC spokesperson told MySanAntonio, “TxDOT’s recent decision to transition its tolling operations to another service provider triggered the need for this reduction in force announcement. While providing the notice to employees, we are also working diligently to find other employment opportunities for impacted employees within the company and with TxDOT’s new tolling partner, where possible. We value our employees’ contributions and are committed to offering support during this time.”

While most of those being laid off worked in Austin, HCTRA jobs are located in metro Houston.

Austin Business Journal (subscription required) looked at the TTEC employees’ severance benefits and the company’s performance during a “rough year” for its stock.

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Industry People Made News

On Tuesday, Delaware Governor-elect Matt Meyer (D) announced he intends to nominate Shanté Hastings for permanent appointment as Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) secretary, Coastal Point reportd. Ms. Hastings currently serves as DelDOT’s deputy secretary and chief engineer, and she will became acting secretary on December 21, upon the departure of current secretary Nicole Majeski.

A 32-year veteran of Missouri DOT, Eric Schroeter, was named the department’s deputy director and chief engineer. He will be responsible for overseeing all phases of project delivery, as well as the department’s operations and maintenance, MoDOT announced on Monday. Schroeter replaces Ed Hassinger, who was promoted to MoDOT director last month.

Courier-Post reported, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) named lawyer and infrastructure management expert Kris Kolluri to serve as the next president and CEO of NJ TRANSIT. The appointment was confirmed by the bus and rail agency board. Mr. Kolluri will succeed Kevin Corbett, who is resigning effective January 15, 2025, to take an unspecified academic post. Last month, Mr. Kolluri ended his 2.5-year tenure as CEO of the Gateway Development Commission, which, among other things, oversees development of the $16.1 billion Hudson Tunnel Project. The commission is seeking out and interviewing candidates for the CEO post with the assistance of a national search firm. CFO Patrick McCoy is serve as Gateway’s acting CEO.

Although Republican committee chairs are normally limited to three terms, Representative Sam Graves (R-MO 6) was granted a waiver by the House Steering Committee to continue chairing the chamber’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Transport Topics reported. With Representative Rick Crawford (R-AR 1) having withdrawn his bid to take the chair, the committee is all but certain to remain under Graves’ leadership in the 119th Congress. Crawford currently chairs the Highways and Transit Subcommittee.

IBTTA announced Wednesday that Kathryn Clay, PhD, will succeed Pat Jones, who is retiring, as the association’s executive director and CEO, effective January 6, 2025. IBTTA stated, Dr. Clay “is a seasoned association leader with a unique blend of scientific expertise, policy acumen, and operational success. She was most recently the president and CEO of the International Liquid Terminals Association, where she drove record revenue growth, spearheaded industry-first advocacy initiatives, and championed innovation, safety, and environmental compliance. . . . Her career spans high-level roles in energy, technology, and public policy, including work on Capitol Hill, where she helped shape key legislation like the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007.”

Joni Seymour was named deputy director of the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA). She will replace T.J. Dill, PE (who also served as chief engineer) following Dill’s recent appointment as Oklahoma DOT chief engineer. OTA stated, “Seymour recently served as Chief Innovation Officer for the Oklahoma Transportation Cabinet where she worked to promote innovation that streamlined organizational and technological processes. Seymour will oversee IT, Customer Service and Human Resources for the Authority. In addition to her new role, Seymour will continue to support ODOT in certain IT and Innovation initiatives to ensure continued collaboration and cooperation between the two agencies.” OTA also named Kelly Ford its new human resources director. In addition to leading authority  personnel and employment programs, she will “contribute to the preparation of the agency’s budget, conducting staffing assessments, and recommending changes in organizational structure to optimize efficiency,” OTA stated.

Trevor Wyckoff was named executive vice president and general manager of Skanska USA building operations in Oregon and Southwest Washington, according to a recent company news release. Mr. Wycoff, a Portland, Oregon, native, has been a Skanska employee for nearly 25 years, after first completing a company internship. Over his career, he has managed projects in Arizona, California, and Washington State, as well as in Oregon.

TxDOT Released Three-Year Strategic Plan For Using Artificial Intelligence

“TxDOT is committed to staying at the forefront of technological advancements, and AI offers tremendous potential to improve safety and streamline operations,” TxDOT Executive Director Marc Williams said in a news release unveiling the department’s Artificial Intelligence Strategic Plan. The 71-page plan identifies 230 potential AI-use cases and “provides strategic recommendations to prepare TxDOT for the technological innovations that will reshape its operations,” operations including traffic monitoring and management, and streamlined project delivery. According to the release, “The AI Implementation Roadmap in the Strategic Plan outlines a structured approach to adopting AI responsibly, emphasizing governance, transparency, human accountability and adherence to the highest ethical and security and data privacy standards.”

TxDOT noted it has also developed an Acceptable Use of Artificial Intelligence Policy and established an AI Risk Management Workgroup to identify, assess, and manage the risks associated with AI systems and projects.

USDOT Awarded $130 Million In Smart Technology Project Grants

On Monday, USDOT announced more than $130 million in Strengthening Mobility and Revolutionizing Transportation (SMART) Grants Program awards for 42 technology demonstration projects. The program provides eligible public sector agencies with funds to conduct projects that leverage automated transportation, connected vehicle technology, intelligent transportation systems, and other innovations to improve transportation efficiency and safety.

This funding round includes 34 new Stage One Planning and Prototyping Grants in 21 states. (This is the third year USDOT has awarded stage one grants.) For the first time, the department also awarded Stage Two Implementation Grants to eight eligible stage one grant recipients for projects in eight states.

The New York Thruway Authority was one of the stage two grant recipients. It will receive $14.9 million to implement smart data collection and integration technologies, including drone inspection, to improve critical infrastructure inspection and monitoring.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) was the recipient of a $2 million stage one grant  for a C-V2X pilot to improve vehicle queuing and merging safety on a crash-prone expressway approach to the George Washington Bridge.

Several Companies Collaborated To Create The Netherlands’ First AET Highway

The barrier-free toll system on the A24-Blankenburg Connection (Blankenburgverbinding) outside Rotterdam, which opened just two weeks ago, is a collaboration involving several major firms, ITSInternational.com reported. “Emovis has designed and installed the system, and will maintain it; Via Verde is managing and collecting tolls, with A-to-Be providing its MoveBeyond back-office system; while Conduent runs the customer contact centre.”

The 4.5-kilometer (2.8-mile) highway complex includes a land tunnel and a river tunnel and is expected to carry 60,000 vehicles per day. Tolls start at EUR 1.51 (USD 1.59) for most passenger vehicles, or EUR 9.13 (USD 9.60) for commercial trucks. Those rates will be adjusted annually starting in 2026 and, depending on traffic volume, are expected to remain in place for about 25 years until the costs of building the facility are recouped.

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