vehicle classification

Ohio Turnpike Commission officials are reconsidering aspects of their new vehicle classification following complaints of unfairness by bicycle enthusiasts and others with roof loads. October 1 last year when E-ZPass came into operation on the Turnpike they also introduced a complete new vehicle classification schedule, and a new toll system. The Turnpike was advised by general engineering consultant Jacobs and the contractor was TransCore.

The Turnpike division of TxDOT is doing something unusual in the US at least - classifying vehicles entirely with overhead equipment using volumetric laser profilers. No loops.

Alan LeBovidge CEO of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority told us this week he has not been saying much about the swirling controversy over overcharges "because I'm not sure we have a real problem." He concedes there may be a problem, just that until the data has been thoroughly analyzed it doesn't make sense to comment.

Teri England at Idris says the company is not recommending their smart loops be placed at 50mm (2 inches) for tolling purposes because for the moment they don't achieve the required 99.5% classification accuracy for toll collection. Teri England of Idris says the company is working to achieve these accuracies at 50mm (2 inch depth) but isn't there yet. She says there is a demand for loops that can be placed at this depth so they aren't chewed up in milling operations when the wearing surface of asphalt pavement is relaid - which occurs about every eight to twelve years.

Idris loops, now a mainstay of highspeed automatic vehicle classification on US tollroads can now be placed deeper in the pavement, the licensing company says. At the previously specified depth of 20mm (under an inch) this has meant that pavement milling operations, undertaken every eight or ten years, are likely to chew up the loops.

Early in the 20th century when muscle and motor power modes coexisted on the roads vehicle classification at toll facilities was complex. That is nicely displayed in this photograph of a posted toll schedule.

The black and white photograph from the Library of Congress collection is rather overexposed or else the print has faded. But fiddling with it in Photoshop (taking Contrast up to about 130) it becomes more or less legible:

TARIFF OF TOLL RATES

E-problems on Carquinez bridge CA