TOLLROADSnews - News

China welcomes investor tollroads while Texas shuts the door

editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 14:35:44 +0000

July 2 2009 should be recorded as an important date in tollroad history. It was the day Chinese regulators gave the green light to Sichuan Expressway Company's Initial Private Offering (IPO) of shares in Shanghai, while in Texas, USA the legislature adjourned for 18 months slamming the door on investor pikes.

Obama officials say want "rigor" in project evaluation (COMMENTARY)

editor — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:27:42 +0000

US undersecretary for transportation policy Roy Kienitz is saying that the Obama administration wants to see more rigorous "project evaluation" and "investment performance assessment" of new highway projects financed with US taxes. He has obviously been leading a sheltered life in central Pennsylvania. Anyone around here could tell him that the US Congress already has a well honed and extremely rigorous Project Evaluation Process (PEP).

West Virginia Turnpike board votes unanimously for toll hikes - for 37% extra $s

editor — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 03:29:25 +0000

West Virginia Turnpike Authority's board voted unanimously today (Wed 2009-07-01) to raise tolls effective August 1. The increases will be the first since 1981, and are designed to increase toll revenue by about $20m/year - from $53.3m to $73.1m or 37% in 2010, the first full year they are in effect.

Tampa toll say settled major claims on URS for 2004 collapse of El for $74.75m

editor — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 04:57:28 +0000

Tampa Hillsboro (Toll) Expressway Authority (THEA) say they've settled with URS' insurer on $74,750,000 in compensation for flawed design work revealed in a collapse of their Selmon Expressway elevated ('El') while under construction in April 2004.

Bush Turnpike in Dallas, E470 Denver go all-electronic this week (ADDITIONS)

editor — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:09:05 +0000

North Texas Tollway Authority on the President George Bush Turnpike and E470 Public Highway Authority in Denver CO will cease all cash toll collection this week. The conversions to all-electronic tolling (AET) will be very differently conducted.

Massachusetts Turnpike rescinds toll hike after Governor says he'll sign $100m/year bailout

editor — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:41:58 +0000

Just 36 hours before a big toll increase was due to come into effect (on July 1) the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board voted 5 to 0 to rescind toll increases voted earlier in the year. The vote today was based on passage of budget legislation providing for an increase in the state sales tax from 5.0% to 6.25% and the appropriation of $100 million per year toward servicing of Turnpike debt for the term of that debt - about 20 years.

Oberstar bill mandates higher gas tax, more earmarks, less private investment (GUEST COLUMN)

editor — Sat, 27 Jun 2009 05:27:57 +0000

by Payson R Peabody, Dykema Members of Congress who believe in fiscal responsibility, tax fairness, and state autonomy should think twice about endorsing the highway reauthorization bill that began working its way through Congress on Wednesday. The bipartisan legislation crafted by House Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar (D-MN) severely restricts one of the most viable options

DeFazio chair highways transit panel says tax on oil futures can fund $140 billion transport funding gap

editor — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:44:40 +0000

US Rep Pete DeFazio issued a statement today claiming that the solution to a funding gap in the proposed $450 billion six year highway and transit program is a tax on oil futures trades. DeFazio proposes a 0.02% tax on every oil futures contract and a 0.5% tax on futures option contracts. He says this would raise $190b over the six years of the STAA reauthorization, "more than enough to fill the gap." That's $32b/year.

Michigan DOT sues Ambassador Bridge company charging breach of contract

editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:58:22 +0000

Michigan DOT have gone to court to try to force the Ambassador Bridge company to build connections to the interstate highways nearby in conformity with a contract for a project called the Ambassador Bridge Gateway Project. The court case is one of a series of disputes and litigation the Bridge company - called Detroit River Bridge Company or DIBC - is involved in.

Mass Turnpike tells state: show us $100m/year or tolls go up by 60%

editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:00:51 +0000

The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority in its protracted bargaining with the state today (2008-06-24) postponed a scheduled meeting on toll rates to Monday (2008-06-29). The Turnpike has voted to raise tolls by about 60% July 1, but board members say they'll cancel the hikes if they get $100m/year in support from the state budget. That $100m/year subsidy must continue for the term of $2200m of bonds they floated to pay for the untolled Big Dig.

Florida DOT restarting concession procurement for Jacksonville Outer Belt

editor — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:56:27 +0000

Florida DOT is restarting the procurement of a toll concession to build and operate the Jacksonville First Coast Outer Beltway. This week they lodged a notice withdrawing the first procurement which was delayed about a year while the state obtained legislation exempting concessionaires from property tax.

Reauthorization: a missed opportunity for transportation funding reform (GUEST AUTHOR)

editor — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:13:02 +0000

by Marcus J. Lemon

On June 18, 2009, the leaders of the House Transportation & Infrastructure (T&I) Committee published a blueprint of their proposed $450 billion six-year reauthorization of the federal surface transportation program.

Feds propose mandating "interoperability of electronic toll collection devices for all toll facilities..."

editor — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:24:18 +0000

The Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009 (STAA or hb44) filed today by US house transport committee chair James Oberstar requires the US Secretary of Transportation to establish a "national standard for the interoperability of electronic toll collection devices for all toll facilities on the National Highway System" within 18 months of the law's enactment.

Washington state hot spot for toll projects - 99 Tunnel under downtown Seattle

editor — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 17:26:04 +0000

Washington state is a hot spot for new toll projects - and big, bold projects to boot. We reported recently on the array of alternatives being considered for the longrange transportation plan for the region - all of which involve substantial reliance on tolls - plus acceptance of tolls on the presently untolled 520 bridge ahead of construction of a wider replacement bridge, but there's more.

Massachusetts Turnpike to be merged into new state DOT in reorganization - bill agreed

editor — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:43:09 +0000

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority will cease to exist by Jan 1 2010 under a reorganization bill (sb2087) agreed between the two houses of the state legislature.

US House Reps transport committee bill puts black cloud over tolling

editor — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 17:17:58 +0000

The US House transportation committee's 'Surface Transportation Authorization Act of 2009' (STAA2009) released today proposes a heavy hit on tolling, road pricing and traffic management. It would revoke four longstanding federal legal authorities for tolling while providing general authority to control toll projects at a new "Office of Public Benefit" within FHWA.

STAA2009 would terminate:

TxDOT has trouble with state Attorney General on N Tarrant toll concession

editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 22:57:36 +0000

Dallas Morning News' Michael Lindenberger got the story first that the recently signed 52 year concession contract between Cintra and partners and TxDOT for the North Tarrant Express project is being held up by the state Attorney General, Greg Abbott on the grounds that it is not "legally sufficient." He has been arguing that the contract is unconstitutional and the News quotes him: "The Texas Constitution says that one Legislature cannot financ

Mexican deployment of ISO 18000-6C sticker tags for vehicle registration & tolling

editor — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:02:18 +0000

Mexican toll and motor vehicle registry authorities are cooperating to deploy sticker tags on the windshield of every vehicle in the country.

US Gov freezes permitting for new span of Ambassador Bridge Detroit-Windsor

editor — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 04:12:31 +0000

Detroit's battle of the bridges took a new turn today with the US Government putting on hold the permitting of a new Ambassador bridge between Detroit and Windsor.

Wyoming moves to toll I-80 - studies, public outreach

editor — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 05:05:59 +0000

Wyoming is moving to toll I-80, the only interstate which spans the state from east to west. Parsons Brinckerhoff were recently asked by Wyoming DOT (WYDOT) to continue their engineering and toll studies.

US traffic still in decline, but decline slower

editor — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 04:29:27 +0000

Statisticians at the Federal Highways' Policy Information office say the latest data from 4,000 traffic counters around the country show continuing decline in traffic this year but at a lesser rate than the decline of last year. Their 12 month moving average shows declines of around a tenth of a percent (one thousandth) per month the past several months - about a third of the average rate of fall last year.

South Miami Busway likely to be studied for toll express lanes

editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:17:36 +0000

The South Miami Dade Busway, a 2-lane dedicated road for buses heading southwest out of Miami is likely to be studied for conversion to an express toll road. Miami Dade Metro Planning Organization seems set to vote for a study of alternatives at their July meeting. The busway runs in an abandoned railroad right of way almost alongside US1, known here as South Dixie Highway.

Exit beers - brewer names new beers for NJ Turnpike Exits

editor — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:21:37 +0000

The Flying Fish Brewing Company (FFBC) are naming a series of their beers for Exits on the New Jersey Turnpike. Located off Exit 4 of the Turnpike in Mount Laurel just ten miles due east of downtown Philadelphia these brewers are champions at marketing. They've scored a heap of TV and radio features for their new line of beers, the Exit Series.

Massachusetts Turnpike's funding of Big Dig challenged in court - "political theater"

editor — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 05:30:48 +0000

Massachusetts Turnpike Authority's funding of free portions of the Big Dig has long been regarded as bad public policy, and as unfair. It was a dirty political deal on behalf of northern and southern constituencies on the free I-93 portion at the expense of the tolled west on I-90. Wrong yes, but illegal, unconstitutional?

Seattle area plan focuses on tolling alternatives including all expressways & arterials to toll

editor — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 05:01:24 +0000

Seattle metro area governments are choosing a longrange plan from a set of alternatives all of which involve more tolls. Analysis of costs and benefits makes tolling of all expressways and arterials look like a good choice. But that choice won't be formally made until May 2010 (contrary to our initial, incorrect posting last week - editor)

US officials very interested in VMT/road use charges - ITSA people

editor — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 03:19:21 +0000

Attendees at the ITS America annual conference at National Harbor Maryland say they are very encouraged by Obama administration officials' interest in road pricing and other ITS technologies. Ken Philmus, ITSA board member and a toll industry veteran now with ACS, says US officials have been attending the conference and inviting ITS people in large numbers.

Washington DC metro area has America's widest bridge - a tale of two bridges, toll and tax

editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 04:29:15 +0000

We hate to hurt the pride of New Jersey, but they DON'T have the widest bridge in North America, as their governor Jon Corzine, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and others have been claiming. It's here in the Washington DC metro area.

New York Governor's commission proposes bridges for P3 availability payment concessions

editor — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:34:45 +0000

A commission appointed by New York State Governor David Paterson says there's major potential in a state program to develop availability payment concessions for bridges.

Problems for Penn Pike in getting Feds OK to toll I-80 in legal counsel Memo

editor — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:55:44 +0000

A previously unpublished Memorandum written by the Federal Highway Administration's (FHWA) chief counsel at the time, Marcus J Lemon, explains rather clearly the thinking behind the US Government rejection last September of the second Pennsylvania application to toll I-80.

Penn Pike revives idea of cut in place of Allegheny Mtn tunnels - study RFP

editor — Sun, 31 May 2009 19:57:23 +0000

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will be issuing an RFP shortly for a planning study of the future of their Allegheny Mountain tunnels. Two 2-lane tubes 1850m long they date back to 1940 and 1965. A study of alternatives in the 1990s concluded the tunnels should be abandoned in favor of a 67m (220ft) deep cut to the north of the tunnels.