- Kapsch: MLFF Toll Systems Contribute To Santiago de Chile's Livability And Sustainability
- Fitch Gives MTA The Latest In A Series Of Credit Rating Boosts
- MTA Chief Worries New Jersey Efforts To Delay Congestion Tolling Will Upset Capital Project Plans
- These are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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Kapsch: MLFF Toll Systems Contribute To Santiago de Chile's Livability And Sustainability
Kapsch TrafficCom announced that it currently facilitates over 1.6 billion transactions annually on nine urban highways in Santiago, Chile, and across Chile as a whole, the number of transactions has reached two billion per year. “As urban centers around the world grapple with the challenges of congestion, the metropolitan area of Santiago de Chile shines as an example of the efficient use of technology for toll collection,” Kapsch stated in a media release. The firm operates and maintains multi-lane free flow (MLFF) collection systems in the South American country with a population nearly 20 million. “By using in-vehicle tags, the system allows faster and more efficient movement for motorists, reducing stop-and-go traffic and congestion at tolling points. The fact that there are 4 million tags in [Santiago alone, a city of seven million] is a testament to the efficiency of the system,” Kapsch noted, adding that the city’s busy Autopista Central was “among the first urban highways globally to adopt MLFF tolling and has since [2004] been accompanied by Kapsch for the provision and servicing of its MLFF collection points.” Tolling revenues are an important source of infrastructure funding in Santiago, but the toll facilities and systems make other contributions to urban sustainability. They ease traffic congestion and improve mobility, thereby reducing the volume of carbon emissions and motorists’ travel times.
For more information about some of the Kapsch TrafficCom projects, click here and select “Chile” in the countries filter list.
Fitch Gives MTA The Latest In A Series Of Credit Rating Boosts
Fitch Ratings announced yesterday that it has upgraded its rating of Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) outstanding transportation revenue bonds to ‘A’ from ‘A-‘. The Rating Outlook is Stable. The announcement, which included an analysis of MTA’s current credit profile, stated, in part, “The upgrade . . . reflects a material improvement in the MTA’s fiscal outlook, which was largely driven by New York State increasing the maximum rate of the Payroll Mobility Tax (PMT). This resulted in a substantial increase in recurring revenues for the operating budget. The MTA-reported out-year gaps through 2027 have been eliminated by the PMT increase, continued ridership recovery and fare and toll rate increases, identified operating efficiencies, and the use of remaining federal pandemic aid to support pre-payments of debt service and retiree benefit costs.”
MTA management touted the Fitch upgrade in a news release that noted recent decisions by Moody’s Investors Service to improve its credit outlook for the authority, and by S&P Global Ratings to upgrade its rating and outlook for the transportation revenue bonds.
The Bond Buyer (subscription required) reports on the improvement in major ratings agency assessments of the bonds’ creditworthiness and MTA’s overall fiscal condition.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Fitch Ratings Investment Ratings Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New York New York CityMTA Chief Worries New Jersey Efforts To Delay Congestion Tolling Will Upset Capital Project Plans
The New York Times reports, during a news conference yesterday, MTA chair and CEO Janno Lieber warned that the New Jersey state government’s attempts to block a 2024 start of Manhattan congestion pricing jeopardizes funding needed in the next capital program cycle to improve the city’s public transit systems. Lieber told reporters, “We could have consequences if there is a significant delay in congestion pricing.” The Times notes, without the anticipated toll revenue, MTA “says it can’t pay for crucial projects that could include making necessary updates to the subway’s aging signal system, which directs train traffic.” Despite Lieber’s worries that New Jersey may convince a court to intervene on congestion pricing, legal experts tell the Times there is nothing now stopping MTA from accomplishing its goal of starting toll collection next spring.
Company and Agency Financial Issues And Reports Congestion Pricing Issues of Law Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) New Jersey New York New York CityThese are just some of the toll industry developments TRN is following.
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