- Tropical Storm Debby Delays North Carolina Expressway Segment Opening
- Why Pennsylvania's Turnpike Joined The Fight Against Human Trafficking
- 166 Vehicles Impounded In Continuing New York City Crackdown On Toll Violators
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Tropical Storm Debby Delays North Carolina Expressway Segment Opening
A new, 18-mile segment of the Triangle Expressway won’t open, as anticipated, on August 28, The News & Observer (subscription required) reports. The North Carolina Turnpike Authority (NCTA) aimed to open the segment, the penultimate stage of the Complete 540 (Triangle Expressway) Project, before Labor Day until heavy rain from Tropical Storm Debby exacerbated existing erosion problems. NCTA now says the need to shore up erosion control measures has brought other work to a standstill for at least two weeks. Once the facility does open, some construction will continue, with overnight lane closures expected. Meanwhile, construction started this year on a different, 10-mile segment of the loop that’s expected to open in 2028.
WTVD also reports on this development.
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance NC 540 (Triangle Expressway) North Carolina North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) North Carolina Turnpike AuthorityWhy Pennsylvania's Turnpike Joined The Fight Against Human Trafficking
WHTM reports, a few facts explain why the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) is dedicated to informing the public about human trafficking and enlisting motorists’ help in eradication of the problem:
- “Human trafficking is very prevalent in [the state capital region served by the turnpike], people don’t realize how prevalent it is,” said Pamela Hess, a PTC transportation planning specialist.
- Eighty-five percent of all human trafficking victims are US citizens, and twenty-five percent of those citizens are 18 years old or younger.
- Sexual exploitation is a motive for trafficking, but so are other forms of coercion, such as forced labor.
- Since the start of the PTC education campaign, trafficking awareness signs have been detected 84 times across the turnpike network.
The nexus between trafficking and surface transportation is another basis for PTC’s action, noted Tami Anderson, a technology innovation manager. “We knew [the PTC network includes] big cities, little cities, connection points across state lines, the corridor itself and the path. It’s the perfect place to address some of these things. We know that traffickers often use the highways, and [the turnpike] is an efficient roadway. So, we knew we had an opportunity to raise awareness and get the community involved and connect with other agencies and groups and states.”
More information about the PTC campaign is available at the Human Trafficking Awareness web page.
166 Vehicles Impounded In Continuing New York City Crackdown On Toll Violators
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New York City Police Department continue working with regional law enforcement partners to mount operations targeted at stopping “ghost cars” and tracking down toll evaders. According to an MTA news release, “Through the first three operations of [this] month, officers have impounded a total of 166 vehicles at operations held at MTA and City crossings including the RFK, Cross Bay and Third Ave bridges.” Officers stopped scofflaws who “amassed $1,345,713.00 in unpaid tolls and fees, judgments, and debts. The operations also resulted in 43 arrests and 1,825 summonses issued.” Those results contribute to a year-to-date total of 1,972 vehicles impounded, 438 arrests and 16,844 summonses from 34 joint enforcement operations. The release adds that mass mailing of imminent judgment warnings have started to go out to top toll violators. More than 20,000 such notices have already been sent pursuant to a new law, effective September 1, that bolsters MTA’s enforcement authority. The agency plans to start mailing 5,000 notices per week.
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) Crime Beat ETC Systems Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York City Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) ScofflawsThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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