- California Commission Approves $2.6 Billion in 2020 STIP Funding
- Maryland Announces Penalty Reduction and Start Date for New Toll Payment Options
- Congress Shifts Attention to "Phase Four" Epidemic Relief Bill
- Cashless Tolling Implemented on Bridges Connecting Philadelphia and New Jersey
- Editorial: All Agencies in New Jersey Should Permanently Convert to Cashless Tolling
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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California Commission Approves $2.6 Billion in 2020 STIP Funding
Streetsblog CAL reports, at Wednesday’s electronic meeting of the California Transportation Commission, members approved $2.6 billion in funding for the 2020 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The article notes that the program will support ongoing projects “as well as an additional thirty new projects,” including the addition of managed express lanes lanes on US 101 in San Mateo County, along Highway 80 in Solano County and within San Bernardino and San Diego County highways. Commissioners reportedly also approved 2020 guidelines for several key funding programs, including (STIP) and the Trade Corridor Enhancement Program.
The commission has posted its March 25 agenda and meeting materials and a video record of the meeting.
California Caltrans (CA Department of Transportation) Express LanesMaryland Announces Penalty Reduction and Start Date for New Toll Payment Options
The Maryland Transportation Authority board yesterday voted to reduce the civil penalty for non-payment of a video toll from $50 to $25 and move up the effective date of a new 15 percent discount rate for customers who pay a video toll before the mailing of an invoice. The measures, which take effect July 1, anticipate MDTA’s systemwide conversion to all-electronic tolling this summer. The authority said the civil penalty change is possible because “costs associated with processing and collecting citations have decreased over time.” The authority also set a July 1 launch date for its new Pay by Plate service, a pay-as-you-go option for customers who do not want to maintain an E-ZPass balance.
WTOP (scroll down to “Maryland”) reports on the measures approved by the board.
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) E-ZPass Maryland Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA) Toll Rate ChangesCongress Shifts Attention to "Phase Four" Epidemic Relief Bill
The Hill reports, “Lawmakers are quickly shifting their attention to a ‘phase four’ coronavirus bill as the economic, health and social effects of the pandemic unfold across the U.S. Congress is set to pass a $2.2 trillion stimulus package . . . as soon as [today] as lawmakers try to ward off a deep recession sparked by the outbreak. But leadership and rank-and-file members in both chambers argue that even with the wide-reaching spending package, which includes help for individuals, small businesses and hard-hit industries, more legislation will be needed.”
Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) Infrastructure Investment Trends US Gov't Transportation FundingCashless Tolling Implemented on Bridges Connecting Philadelphia and New Jersey
NBC News Philadelphia reports, the Delaware River Port Authority yesterday joined the “no-cash movement in response to the coronavirus pandemic,” implementing temporary electronic-only toll collection on the Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross, Commodore Barry and Walt Whitman bridges that connect southern New Jersey with metro Philadelphia. DRPA will reportedly direct drivers without E-ZPass into a single lane equipped for license plate imaging at each toll plaza. Toll bills will then be mailed to vehicle registered owners.
A DRPA news release provides details of the temporary collection procedure.
Delaware River Port Authority (DRPA) Highway-Tunnel-Bridge Safety (Includes COVID-19 Impacts) New Jersey Pennsylvania Philadelphia PA Metro AreaEditorial: All Agencies in New Jersey Should Permanently Convert to Cashless Tolling
South Jersey Times editors (via NJ.com) suggest that the current epidemic presents an ideal opportunity for New Jersey agencies to “sell more motorists who use the bridges and tunnels regularly on the benefits of signing up for E-Z-Pass. It’s also a perfect opportunity for the authorities to eliminate toll-collector jobs once and for all, without the usual dawdling [sic] for completion of feasibility studies and the workers’ protests to keep the staffed booths for one more contract.” The editorial emphasizes that even before COVID-19 arrived, toll collectors had to take precautionary measures to stay healthy.
AET (All-Electronic Tolling) New Jersey Toll CollectorsThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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