Technology Scan for Electronic Toll Collection

The purpose of this project was to identify and assess available technologies and methodologies for electronic toll collection (ETC) and to develop recommendations for the best way(s) to implement toll collection in the Louisville metropolitan area. The intent was to determine which tolling mechanisms maximize efficiency and effectiveness of toll collection while minimizing traffic impacts. This report describes the advantages and disadvantages of tolling, current tolling technologies, the purpose of ETC, and the benefits and costs of ETC. Implementation issues for ETC are discussed, including the location of toll collection facilities, ETC methodologies, interoperability of ETC systems, how to handle vehicles not equipped for ETC, enforcement, pricing strategies, and congestion management. Case studies are presented for the Bay Area Bridges in San Francisco, Highway 407 in Toronto, and the Indiana Toll Road. The study concluded that ETC provides substantial advantages over manual toll collection; ETC technology is proven, accurate, and reliable; interoperability is an important consideration in choosing an ETC technology; the greatest benefits are achieved with open-road tolling; decisions must be made regarding how to deal with non-equipped, non-enrolled vehicles; and adequate enforcement will be critical to the success of any ETC implementation.