Daily News Briefs, October 6, 2022

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Virginia MBUF Program Gets National Recognition For Its Early Success

The Washington Post reports, more than 7,000 Virginians who own fuel-efficient, hybrid and electric vehicles have voluntarily enrolled in Mileage Choice, a state road-use fee program, putting Virginia “at the forefront of a nationwide effort using new technology to prop up gas taxes that pay for roads.” Participants pay the highway use fee imposed on their vehicles on a per-mile basis instead of paying a formula-determined fee in a lump sum at the time of registration renewal. “For drivers of battery-powered cars, that fee works out to a penny per mile,” and it can represent a savings for some. State officials say “they are pleased with the [program’s] quick growth, which has attracted the attention of transportation officials across the country.” Emovis operates the program for Virginia’s Department of Motor Vehicles.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicles Emovis (Abertis Mobility Services) Road Use Charging (RUC-MBUF-VMT) Virginia

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Lower Toll Rates Take Effect On Tacoma Narrows Bridge

The News Tribune reports on new lower toll rates that took effect October 1 on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and how they compare to rates charged on other facilities around Puget Sound. Reductions were approved by the state transportation commission in August pursuant to legislation that provided funding for toll relief.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge Toll Rate Changes Washington State Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)

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PA And WV Turnpikes Prepare For ABC Construction Projects

WBRE (via PAhomepage.com) reports, the Pennsylvania Turnpike will close a 37.4-mile segment of the Northeastern Extension (I-476) between Friday, October 14, and Monday, October 17, for an accelerated bridge construction (ABC) project.

The project web page notes, “This will be the fifth ABC project to be completed by the PTC. Instead of one to two years of Turnpike roadway lane closures and delays, most impacts will occur over the course of a single weekend with this ABC method.”

Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports, the West Virginia Turnpike will begin the second of three planned ABC projects on Sunday evening, October 9, near Camp Creek. “The bridge deck replacement, at milepost 16.93 southbound, is expected to be completed by Oct. 15. . . . The project will utilize concrete deck panels fabricated off-site to speed up construction and minimize inconvenience to the traveling public.” Workers will keep one lane of the bridge open to traffic on an alternating basis. Turnpike chief executive Jeff Miller said the first ABC project, employing the same contractor, “went well and was completed 30 hours ahead of schedule.”

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Mackinac Bridge Authority Will End Token Redemptions In December

The Petoskey News-Review reports, “Discontinued for use in toll lanes three years ago, bridge tokens will no longer be refunded at the Mackinac Bridge after Dec. 31, 2022.” The bridge authority says token redemptions have diminished to the point that it believes less than one percent of all tokens issued remain in circulation. However, it is giving customers a final opportunity to claim a refund of $4 per token for as many as 24, and $1.50 per token for any additional quantity.

Mackinac Bridge Authority of Michigan Michigan Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT)

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

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