Daily News Briefs, July 31, 2023

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Bill Permitting Starr-Camargo Toll Bridge Expansion Passes US Senate

KRGV reports, S 1608, federal legislation to permit expansion of the privately owned Starr-Camargo toll span that connects Rio Grande City, Texas, with Camargo, Mexico, was passed by the Senate last week and is headed to the House of Representatives for approval. If enacted, the measure will allow the owner to increase the number of vehicle lanes or build a cross-border rail line over the bridge.

The principal sponsor, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX), issued a news release on Friday stating that the facility “has been invaluable to the economy of South Texas and the nation,” and adding, “Expanding this international bridge will help ease congestion and supply chain issues at this critical port of entry at no cost to taxpayers.”

Mexico P3 & Privatization Rio Grande Valley (TX) International Toll Bridges Starr-Camargo International Bridge Company Texas

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MTA Police Equipped With Portable License Plate Readers Nab More Toll Scofflaws

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that its police force “interdicted 26 vehicles registered to persistent toll violators at the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge on Tuesday, July 25, despite the heavy rain that interrupted the operation for over an hour.” The offenders netted in the operation owe a collective total of almost $700,000 in unpaid tolls and fees. MTA stated that officers used a recently acquired tool, portable license plate readers, in Tuesday’s enforcement action. “We are always exploring new avenues for advancing our operations,” commented MTA Bridges and Tunnels Chief of Operations Richard L. Hildebrand II. “These portable license plate readers are an example of how new technology can be integrated to assist our targeted efforts. . . .” The portable units supplement plate reading devices installed in police vehicles. MTA’s news release summarizes the results of its stepped-up campaign to enforce the payment of tolls and stop the use of evasion tactics. MTA Bridges and Tunnels Interim President Catherine Sheridan noted, “We have already surpassed the total number of vehicles we had interdicted last year. This is a testament to our ongoing efforts and how we build on our enforcement strategies, including the use of new technology.”

Automated License Plate Recognition Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York City Scofflaws

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Bridge Shutdown Plus Separate Toll System Conversion Frustrates Metro Louisville Commuters

WHAS reports, traveling between Louisville, Kentucky, and southern Indiana, already somewhat of a problem owing to the emergency closure of the Sherman Minton Bridge, will get more complicated over the next two weeks as traffic flow on two alternate RiverLink crossings is slowed by toll system conversion work. Commuters tell WHAS the combined effect of the maintenance projects increases travel time and reduces business activity.

RiverLink, the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges toll system operator, announced Friday that another round of overnight (8:00 PM to 5:00 AM) lane closures will occur on the Lincoln and Kennedy bridges this week and next week as workers continue to install new toll collection hardware. RiverLink’s bistate overseers are in the process of transitioning to a new toll system supplied by TransCore.

AET (All-Electronic Tolling) ETC Systems Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Maintenance Indiana Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) Kentucky Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges RiverLink Toll System (IN-KY Ohio River Bridges) TransCore

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These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.

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