Rhode Island's Pell Bridge drivers hot for E-ZPass

Just eight weeks after the Dec 16 introduction of electronic tolling at the Pell Bridge near Newport Rhode Island 67% of transactions are by transponder. 14% are out-of-state E-ZPass IAG transponders and 53% are transponders issued by Rhode Island toll bridge authority (RITBA) which operates the Pell toll bridge, the gateway to Newport RI from New York and Connecticut. Two months in they have established 26k E-ZPass accounts and issued 38k transponders, all for a bridge that averages 28k vehicles/day.

David A Darlington, chairman of RITBA says the response of customers to electronic tolling has been "overwhelmingly positive."

Demand for transponders has been so strong staff have worked long overtime hours to keep pace. Wilbur Smith & Associates who were advising the bridge authority projected 25k accounts by the end of 2010. What was forecast to take two years took less than two months.

One reason for the rapid rollout of electronic tolling was the end of token payment which occurred Feb 1.

Tokens constituted some 78% of transactions prior to electronic tolling because they provided a deep discount on the cash toll.

Rolls of eleven tokens sold for $10 (91c each) and 60 tokens for $50 (83c each) compared to the cash toll payment of $2.00.

Transponders take over from tokens for discounts

Non-Rhode Island transponders from the E-ZPass IAG including Massachusetts FAST LANE transponders are charged  $1.75. 

But Rhode Island E-ZPass accounts provides similarly deep discounts to those previously provided by tokens.

Rhode Island transponders used by out-of-state residents get a 91c trip if they make more than 30 trips in a 30 day period. Less than 30 trips/30 days and they pay $1.75.

Rhode Island residents providing proof of residency in the state get all trips with a  RI E-ZPass at 83c/trip.

We thought that providing a special deal to local residents was unconstitutional  - a breach of the commerce clause of the constitution - but Darlington says No, their lawyers advise it can withstand legal challenge. (REVISION 2009-02-17 10:05)

New toll system

Telvent Caseta installed the new toll system for RITBA at a cost of $2.8m. This covered ten toll lanes all capable of cash, cash and transponder or transponder-only. It included all new equipment except for treadles. Also gates were installed for the first time. Darlington says that cameras and followup enforcement don't make financial sense. It is more economical to have a staffer in the lanes to handle situations where the gate doesn't rise because of a non-read or insufficient funds in the account.

Gates are also seen as a speed-limiting safety feature in a toll plaza designed for stopping traffic and with lanes barely 11ft (3.3m) wide.

Why only in 2009?

Why did they take so long to go to electronic tolling?

Darlington says they delayed going electronic because there was no savings to be had.  With nearly 80% token usage and automatic coin machines they had only 18 toll collectors who managed to cover at least two toll lanes 24/7. But as tokens are disappearing from transit systems and casinos they are increasingly difficult and expensive to buy. When RITBA's longtime token supplier went out of business, Darlington says, he thought maybe it was time to transition to electronic.

Pell toll bridge has had the same base rate toll of $2.00 since it opened in 1969 and commuter toll rates are now lower than in 1969.  RITBA also pays for the maintenance and operation of the Mt Hope Bridge on  the northern end of Aquidneck Island.

Mt Hope bridge goes back to 1927 and was built and operated by the privately owned Mt Hope Bridge Company and acquired for the state bridge authority in 1955. Unfortunately for RITBA tolls on the Mt Hope bridge were lifted in 1998 so the Pell bridge revenues now have to support the costs of both bridges.

Pell Bridge is the western gateway providing links to Connecticut and New York while Mt Hope bridge provides the island's northern gateway and link via RI-114 to Providence, the state's major city. A third bridge the Sakonnet provides the northwest gateway and a link to Boston and Cape Cod. Tax money is being used for a new Sakonnet bridge.

Darlington says the days of low tolls are probably numbered. Both bridges need major renovations costing several tens of millions of dollars each. Present toll revenues are about $12m/year.

RITBA will shortly be going out with an RFP for an investment grade revenue study of ways to fund the renovations.

NOMENCLATURE NONSENSE: Around here you have to earn your title. The Pell toll bridge is operated by what is officially termed Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) but, since they don't have any Turnpike, for us they are just Rhode Island toll bridge authority (stiil RITBA).

On opening of their first turnpike we'll be happy to acknowledge their grander official name.

To be fair Rhode Island's phantom turnpike is not alone.

The toll bridge authority in Philadelphia is the Delaware River Port Authority and it has no port. And West Virginia's Parkways Authority has no parkway. Not to speak of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise having no enterprise... (low blow there)

http://www.ritba.org/

TOLLROADSnews 2009-02-16