Japan rolls out ET

Japan is rapidly rolling out electronic tolling (ET), having spent ten years in design, testing and planning. ET began for an initial 30k motorists April 24 in the Tokyo area at 54 toll lanes and more lanes are being rolled out rapidly. By the end of this fiscal year 580 lanes will be live, increasing to 900 by the end of FY2002. Japan has an active transponder like the E-ZPass IAG, but operating at 5.8GHz. Like Singapore the Japanese ET system does not keep detailed central customer accounts. Patrons pay by inserting a smart-card (IC card) in the transponder which does an electronic transfer of funds from the smart-card to the tollster at the toll point. All toll agencies in Japan are using the single system and it is hoped the IC-cards will be used in other transactions on and off the road.

By the end of FY02 when all toll plazas in the country have ET lanes it is expected that about 4m vehicles will have transponders, about half the vehicles using toll facilities daily. Japan’s motorway system is almost entirely tolled, as are all major bridges and tunnels.

Sadeo Okano of the Organization for Roadway Enhancement says Japan is the 23rd country to implement ET.