JAPANESE ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION SYSTEM RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The worldwide trend of the electronic toll collection (ETC) system research and development (R&D) influenced and accelerated Japanese research activities. Japanese toll roads have such a unique characteristic as they form a huge national highway network and are managed by several toll road authorities. Cooperative work is necessary among the authorities concerned to advance Japanese ETC system R&D projects because toll collection systems and toll charge schemes vary road by road, region by region. The expertise of the private sector is also crucial, in addition to each authority's experience and know-how about ETC systems. Therefore, Japanese major toll road authorities and the Ministry of Construction launched a joint R&D project in which ten selected prominent private firms participated as partners. Radio communication technologies and mixed lane operation process are being tested in several toll road plazas. Clearing procedures among different authorities are also studied. The details of the Japanese ETC system architecture are to be compiled after the completion of the project, but prerequisites for the system have already been established such as: interoperability of the on-board equipment, software adaptability to the current toll collection systems and different toll payment modes, accuracy and reliability of radio communication and information processing. The joint R&D project is steadily progressing and research results will fully contribute to not only Japanese but also universal development of this new, next generation of toll collection systems.