MFS AWARD Jersey e-toll $500m

MFS AWARD

Jersey e-toll $500m

March 26 the consortium of New Jersey toll authorities formally selected MFS and final negotiations are now under way over the last details of the $500m contract for installation of electronic (e-) toll equipment and communications on the NJ Turnpike and the Garden State Parkway. Separate contracts will be negotiated with MFS by the operators of the Atlantic City Expwy and Delaware state toll facilities. The selection of MFS was made last Fall (see TR#10 Dec 96 p1) but the loser Lockheed Martin protested the decision and took court action. Lockheed still has not accepted the result and is launching more court challenges in Delaware and NJ, claiming irregularities in the acquisition process, and saying that it was disadvantaged by the emphasis placed on communications. The director of the NJ pike Ed Gross previously rejected Lockheed’s protests in scathing terms (see TR#10) and he said March 26 that MFS produced “the best, most viable overall proposal.” Also causing delay was the need for legislative authority to operate a video enforcement system.

RoboCop: The contract will see the provision of e-toll equipment provided by Mark IV at 700 toll lanes and fiber optic connections over 650km of NJ toll road. Chase Manhattan Bank will market the e-tags and run customer service centers and toll accounts, US Public Technologies will run a video enforcement system, while Vollmer Assoc will provide signs and striping (but not forecasts!) Violations have been a problem on the Garden State Parkway. Drawings show an unusual child-sized robot like device standing on the toll booth islands for video enforcement — see above — a change from the more common canopy-mounted cameras. MFS hopes to reduce violations from 2.5% to about 0.5% by aggressive enforcement and collection. (Contact Jennifer Larkey MFS 402 233 7618)