“The new toll collection system – featuring open-road tolling – will continue to stimulate economic activity and growth across our 241-mile Ohio Turnpike, which is designated as Interstate 80, I-90 and I-76,” said Ferzan Ahmed, executive director of the Turnpike Commission. “The local, regional and national economic benefits of our top-performing facility will be immense for our commuters, travelers as well as the commercial freight industry.”

The Turnpike Commission disclosed the elimination of entry and exit gates at 20 toll plazas statewide.

Additionally, 127 lanes now feature “new electronic tolling components, including sensors and other equipment to read E-ZPass transponders and to classify vehicles by the number of axles and vehicle height.”

This extensive overhaul, initiated in 2019, incurred a nearly $250 million investment solely financed by toll-generated revenue. Remarkably, the ambitious five-year project adhered to its budgetary confines.

Key elements of the updated system encompass video surveillance for license plate imaging, deployment of traffic monitoring apparatus along the toll road, and the establishment of the new Westgate toll plaza at milepost 4. Notably, eastbound travelers at the Eastgate toll plaza will now traverse toll-free. Additionally, two new mainline toll plazas have been erected at mileposts 49 and 211.

To accommodate the reduction in toll plazas from 31 to 24 and the incorporation of new toll gates, a revised toll schedule has been introduced. Despite these alterations, the Turnpike Commission assures that the overall toll rate per mile remains unchanged for the time being. Moreover, the updated toll schedule introduces Class 8 vehicle classification, tailored for long combination vehicles exceeding 90 feet in length.

In conjunction with the implementation of the open-road tolling framework, nine toll plazas along the turnpike will cease toll collection. Cash-paying customers will no longer need to halt for ticket retrieval or toll payment, while E-ZPass transponders will no longer be scanned. Overhead signage on the gantries will now indicate “NO TOLL, KEEP MOVING.”

The converted toll-free gantries encompass Toll Plaza 13 (Bryan-Montpelier) in Williams County, Toll Plaza 25 (Archbold-Fayette) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 34 (Wauseon) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 39 (Delta-Lyons) in Fulton County, Toll Plaza 215 (Lordstown-West) in Trumbull County, Toll Plaza 216 (Lordstown-East) in Trumbull County, Toll Plaza 218 (Niles-Youngstown) in Mahoning County, Toll Plaza 232 (Youngstown) in Mahoning County, and Toll Plaza 234 (Youngstown-Poland) in Mahoning County.

The modernization of the toll collection system has been characterized as the most significant construction undertaking in Turnpike history since its inaugural completion in 1955. It is a monumental achievement for the commission.

“The new toll collection system and the technology behind it are a big step forward in safety, efficiency, and convenience for the Ohio Turnpike’s passenger car and commercial truck customers to reach east and west destinations along the northern corridor of Ohio and beyond,” the commission said.

A comprehensive overview of the updated toll schedules is accessible here.

Source: Land Line

The post Open Road Tolling Starts on Ohio Turnpike appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.

This partnership brings forth a groundbreaking solution in the form of the Bestpass Complete Pass system, which revolutionizes toll management in the United States. The Bestpass Complete Pass system seamlessly integrates more than 50 tolling authorities across the nation into a unified and user-friendly platform. Benefits across various aspects of toll management, including state-specific accounts, payment processes, reporting systems, and the incorporation of in-cab devices, as stated in their official news release.

What sets Bestpass apart is its comprehensive approach to toll management. In addition to providing a single transponder for hassle-free toll payment, Bestpass also takes the step of ensuring that the essential fleet plates are accurately documented with the relevant tolling authorities. This proactive measure not only streamlines toll payment processes but also acts as a safeguard against potential violations in the future, alleviating the burden on fleet operators.

Moreover, Bestpass brings an innovative touch to the realm of toll management by introducing on-demand toll reporting. This feature offers real-time insights and alerts, enabling fleet operators to promptly flag any instances of unauthorized use or suspicious activities related to tolls. This added layer of protection enhances the security and efficiency of toll management for fleets, giving them greater control and peace of mind when it comes to their toll-related affairs.

The partnership between Transflo and Bestpass is poised to bring about a new era in toll management and supply chain efficiency, simplifying the complexities of toll payment, ensuring compliance, and providing advanced tools for vigilant oversight of toll-related operations.

“We’re thrilled to announce our partnership with Bestpass to streamline toll management for our customers,” said Justin King, chief product officer at Transflo. “With the Bestpass Complete Pass system, we’re offering seamless automated toll payments directly from the Transflo driver app. This enhances our commitment to reduce friction across the supply chain, making operations more efficient and cost-effective for over 65,000 fleets and more than 800,000 drivers.”

Source: The Trucker

The post New Toll Management System Unveiled by Transflo and Bestpass appeared first on Truck Drivers USA.