ETC startup in Richmond VA

We visited the Richmond toll roads to see ETC in operation two weeks later. MFS did the system integration work on the Richmond Metro Authority’s Downtown Exwy and Powhite Parkway. Independent tuning and testing was performed by MarkIV the equipment supplier. The contiguous Powhite Parkway Extension operated by VDOT got its ETC installed byTransCore. Both began ETC operations together. Both have their clients sign up for the Smart Tag transponders with the one Virginia ET customer service operation run by Castle Rock (which also operates the established systems for Dulles Toll Road and Greenway and the Coleman Bridge at Yorktown.)

Two weeks into ETC use, when we visited, just over 10% of transactions were by transponder. As in most places patrons are delighted with the technology and the introduction seemed to be going smoothly with demand for transponders strong.

RMA started with a dedicated ETC lane each direction at each of its two mainline plazas but all 55 toll lanes in the system are wired up for ETC. Bright mylar scrolling signs indicate the payment mode to the motorist. VDOT by contrast has LED dot matrix changeable signs which are bright seen from head on but can’t be seen well at an angle. RMA and VDOT are both using gates to limit the speed of motorists in the ETC lanes. Speed is posted at 10mph.

Jim Kennedy RMA director of toll operations told us the queuing of traffic was “perceptibly improved” within a week with less than 10% ET transactions. Queue lengths were down and the hours of queuing reduced, though they had a ways to go before he was satisfied. There were some 10min waits before ET. 5 or 6min seemed to be the maximum within 10 or 11 days of ET.

At the VDOT extension manager Terry Herbert told us he had no real queuing problem at plazas to start with but that ET was helping patrons through more quickly. VDOT’s Powhite Pwy Extension is 20km long and takes 50k tolls per day averaged over the year for revenue of $8.4m. It has 28 toll lanes at 4 plazas.

After 5 weeks VDOT was running 20% ET transactions average having done 9.5% on opening day. The transponders offer no break on the toll rate at the VDOT facility but at the RMA they provide a similar discount to tokens - sales of which are discontinued.

RMA collects $20m in toll revenues and does 140k tolls per day on its two toll roads and a separate bridge. RMA had an interesting tussle with the FHWA over use of $2m CMAQ funds for ETC. In the end it rejected the federal money because of the strings the FHWA was attaching. The whole project would have had to conform with the US Dept Labor Davis-Bacon wage-setting procedures and RMA decided it wasn’t worth it. There was also a federal demand that oversight continue indefinitely, even though the federally funded equipment had long since been scrapped. RMA was also concerned that acceptance of federal funds could place it in a position where it would be forced into implementing congestion pricing.