Daily News Briefs, March 24, 2020

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Atlantic City Expressway May Adopt $500 Million Capital Plan and Raise Tolls

NJ.com reports, “The Atlantic City Expressway became the state’s third toll road to seek a toll increase to fund a capital plan totaling almost $500 million, at the same time the New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway officials proposed a toll hike. The South Jersey Transportation Authority voted on March 18 to set public hearing dates for a ‘revenue enhancement’ and capital program, but revealed no details about how much the toll hike would raise or rates. Publication of a legal notice this weekend only provided hearing dates and bare bones financial information for toll payers.”

Infrastructure Investment Trends New Jersey South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) Toll Rate Changes

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MassDOT Secretary Outlines Epidemic's Impact on Traffic and Revenue

State House News Service (via Southcoasttoday.com) reports, Massachusetts “will experience a steep dropoff in roadway toll revenue,” — one forecast estimates as much $38 million for the fiscal year — “due to the coronavirus outbreak, but Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said the administration is well-equipped to absorb the blow.” At yesterday’s virtual meeting of the MassDOT board, Pollack reportedly said congestion has “in many cases literally evaporated overnight’” as businesses and schools shut down, and recent data shows travel times substantially lower than average on I-93 north and south of Boston and on I-90 west of the city. The article notes that “about half of MassDOT is funded by tolls, Pollack said.”

CommonWealth Magazine and MassLive.com also cover Pollack’s report to the board.

Boston Metro Area Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Massachusetts Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) Massachusetts Turnpike

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London Mayor Orders Congestion Charge Suspension

The Guardian reports, “All road charging schemes in London are to be suspended to help critical workers move around the capital during the coronavirus crisis. Transport for London (TfL) said the congestion charge, ultra-low emission zone and low emission zone would stop operating from Monday [March 23] until further notice.” (TRN modified links in quoted text.)

According to a BBC report, as recently as last Thursday (March 19), TfL said it had no plans to suspend the congestion charges.

Congestion Pricing Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) London Metro Region United Kingdom

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Alabama County Rejects Private Proposal to Construct a Toll Bridge

Shelby County Reporter reports, the Shelby County, Alabama, Commission yesterday unanimously denied businessman Tim James’ proposal to build a toll bridge across the Coosa River to connect Shelby and Talladega Counties. “The proposal ignited passions on both sides of the issue, with opponents, especially, petitioning the Commission for weeks and voicing their opinion at a public involvement meeting on Feb. 18,” according to the article.

Alabama P3 & Privatization

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WSDOT Signs Exhort Public to Stay Home and Limit Travel

KXLY reports, “The Washington State Department of Transportation has displayed message signs on highways across the state in an effort to encourage social distancing. The signs read ‘Stay home, limit travel, save lives’ as part of the statewide effort to limit the spread of COVID-19.”

Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Washington State Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

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

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