REDUCE TRAFFIC CONGESTION
Automated Toll Collection Solution Proposal
Dave Larnerd
Computer Science Senior
September 17, 2007
Information Superiority for Transportation
Traffic Congestion Solution
Security, Effectiveness, Reliability
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Societal Woe
Conventional toll collection methods require you to deposit coins, tickets, and
tokens at toll plazas. This challenges highway capacity because the number of
vehicles that can be processed at toll plazas is limited.
•
Toll collection plazas
wreak havoc on traffic
flow
•
Systems such as
EZPass & FastTrak
are limited
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Security, Effectiveness, Reliability
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My Proposal: ATC
Automated Toll Collection will streamline toll
collection for every car & truck, as opposed
to just those who use EZPass or similar
systems
Traffic Congestion Solution
Security, Effectiveness, Reliability
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ATC - How do we get there?
•
Cameras capture image of passing license plates
•
System builds/updates database which is linked to
all other participating toll collection stations
•
Applicable drivers receive monthly statement
indicating balance due
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Is it really needed?
In 2005 Americans traveled 2,989,807,000,000 miles on
our highways
This represents a 27.4 billion mile increase over travel
in 2004 and nearly 25 percent more than in 1995
There were 241.2 million vehicles registered, including
6.2 million motorcycles – the most ever recorded in
both categories.
US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “Moving the American
Economy.” 11 DEC 2006. http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0614.htm
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USA Today Article
“Business travelers who rent autos often waste an
average of 1½ hours per trip stuck in traffic, getting
lost and waiting to pay tolls.”
Source: Avis survey in May 2007 of 42,414 business
travelers who rent from Avis; 6,303 travelers
responded.
Gary Stoller. “Business travelers say they lose lots of time sitting in traffic.” USA TODAY.
24 JUL 2007. http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2007-07-24-lost-time_N.htm
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ATC Advantages
•
Eliminate/Reduce traffic congestion caused by toll
collection
•
Reduce auto emissions and fuel consumption
•
Capable of providing DOT with valuable traffic
information such as flow rate and volume
•
Increased safety – fewer vehicle and attendant
accidents
•
Saved revenue – no longer require toll booth
attendants
•
E-ZPass claims it processes 250 – 300 % more
vehicles per lane (ATC should yield similar results)
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Concerns
•
Privacy
Mitigation: Data Security
•
Collecting tolls from drivers
Mitigation: License & registration renewal denied if account past due
•
Weather or debris blocking license plate
Mitigation: Capture front & rear license plates. Loss is not substantial
or consider RFID tags on license plate
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Security, Effectiveness, Reliability
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Competition
•
E-ZPass and other similar
systems
•
Metro Road Systems Pvt Ldt
(Research & Develop firm – India
-offer license plate recog. –
currently not in US)
•
RFID tags on license plates
(Testing done in UK)
Traffic Congestion Solution
Security, Effectiveness, Reliability
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Societal Impact
•
In 2003, there were 3.7 billion hours of travel delay and 2.3
billion gallons of wasted fuel for a total cost of more than $63
billion.
•
Traffic congestion is a major quality of life issue that impacts
decisions as fundamental as where to buy a home or where to
work
Any relief to congestion that technology can
reasonably offer should demand our
attention
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Works Cited
Bowen, Jerry. “Gridlock Driving Up Wasted Time.” CBS NEWS. 9 May 2005.
<http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/05/09/national/main693952.shtml>
Gary Stoller. “Business travelers say they lose lots of time sitting in traffic.” USA
TODAY. 24 JUL 2007. <http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2007-07-24-losttime_N.htm>
E-Z Pass Information. E-Z Pass New Jersey Customer Service Center. 15 Sep 2007.
<http://www.ezpass.com/static/info/howit.shtml>
US Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. “Moving the
AmericanEconomy.” 11 DEC 2006. <http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pressroom/fhwa0614.htm>
“The Future of Transportation in Virginia.” VDOT Projects and Studies. Virginia.Gov
14 Sep 2007. <http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/>
“Electronic Toll Collection Systems.” Metro Road Systems Private Limited. MetroRoadSystems.com. 16 Sep 2007. <http://www.metroroadsystems.com/toll_collections.shtml>
“RFID-Enabled License Plates To Identify UK Vehicles.” RFIDNews and RFIDOperations. 16 Sep 2007. <http://www.rfidnews.org/news/2004/06/10/rfidenabledlicense-plates-to-identify-uk-vehicles/>
“Not So Fast: E-Z Pass Data Used To Catch Cheaters.” CBS/AP. 11 Aug 2007. TopNews
wcbstv.com. 15 Sep 2007. <http://wcbstv.com/topstories/local_story_222140553.html>
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