As NTTA goes AET/cashless on the road it moves to have more cash options off-road

North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) has engaged cash stores operator ACE Cash Express to provide walk-in options for NTTA customers to pay their video toll - local brand is "ZipCash" - invoices. The ACE Express stores and cash machines will also allow north Texas tollroad users to open and load cash-backed transponder accounts locally branded TollTag.
 
Customers will be able to use the ACE Cash Express stores and machines to:

- sign up for cash-backed TollTag accounts

- pay video toll or "ZipCash" bills

-  add to their TollTaq credit by providing cash

There will be 152 ACE Cash Express locations in the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area providing what NTTA calls "convenient neighborhood payment locations" for cash customers.

NTTA is already cashless on the President Bush Turnpike and the Sam Rayburn Tollway, and at the southern mainline plaza on the Dallas North Tollway. Other Dallas North Tollway toll plazas plus smaller bridge and airport tunnel toll plazas are due to go cashless within the next year.

Clayton Howe, NTTA director of operations is quoted in a statement:

“The NTTA wants to offer convenient opportunities for our ZipCash customers and to offer a TollTag option for our cash customers. Adding more payment centers by partnering with ACE will assist the NTTA and its customers during and following the conversion of our system to all-electronic toll collection, especially as our system and operations continue to grow.”
 
Victor Faszczuk, business development officer for ACE is quoted:

“ACE Cash Express is pleased to be working directly with the NTTA to establish such a meaningful program. ACE has always been viewed as a community-based business, offering customers quality financial services with attention to high customer care.  Our objective has always been to add partnerships that make it easier for customers to take care of their financial needs, and this important partnership with NTTA is an example of that direction.”
 
ZipCash video toll customers are able to fly through toll points now in similar fashion to transponder or TollTag customers do, but they pay a 50 percent higher toll rate. 

NTTA is working to get more to get a TollTag transponder and they point out TollTags work to pay tolls  on any toll road in Texas as well as paying for parking at major area airports.
 
The ACE arrangements to support NTTA are due to become fully available in the second quarter of 2010. 

ACE Cash Express Inc. describes itself as "a leading retailer of financial services, including short-term consumer loans, check-cashing, bill payment and prepaid debit card services."

It claims to be the largest owner and operator of check cashing stores in the United States and the second largest owner and operator of short-term consumer loan stores in the country.

As of mid-February ACE reports it had a network of 1,737 stores in 38 states and DC.

see http://www.acecashexpress.com

TOLLROADSnews 2010-03-04