The 2017 International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association’s (IBTTA) Toll Excellence Award Winners are revolutionizing mobility for drivers around the globe by implementing cutting-edge solutions to 21st century transportation challenges.
The annual awards presented by IBTTA, recognize innovative strategies to help ease traffic flow, relieve congestion and increase safety for the global driving public. The awards are presented in the following categories: Administration and Finance; Customer Service and Marketing; Social Responsibility; Technology; Toll Operations, Engineering and Maintenance; and Private Sector Innovation.
“Whether you are driving in Dallas or Dubai, the goals of providing customers with greater mobility and safety remain the same,” said Emanuela Stocchi, President, IBTTA. “The award winners are implementing solutions to complex, global transportation challenges.”
Recipients of the 2017 IBTTA International Toll Excellence Awards are:
- Indiana Toll Road Concession Company (Indiana) – Administration and Finance
- State Road and Tollway Authority (Georgia) – Customer Service and Marketing Outreach
- North Texas Tollway Authority (Texas) – Social Responsibility
- Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (Pennsylvania) – Technology
- Road and Transport Authority (Dubai, United Arab Emirate) – Toll Operations, Engineering and Maintenance
- Raytheon (Massachusetts) – Private Sector Innovation
The awards will be presented during IBTTA’s 85th Annual Meeting and Exhibition, September 10-12 in Atlanta, Georgia and one recipient will be honored with the prestigious President’s Award for excellence.
Administration and Finance Award Winner
ITR Concession Company (ITRCC) (Indiana Toll Road) or Indiana Route 80/90 runs for 157 miles east-west across northern Indiana from the Illinois state line to the Ohio state line.
The Administration and Finance Award presented to ITRCC relates to the highly successful procurement approach adopted for the $220M 80/90 PUSH Project which leveraged a highly aggressive schedule via early contractor engagement, running concurrent procurement processes and maintaining a high degree of interaction and transparency with prospective contractor partners. Safety and quality were the overriding principles considered as part of the procurement of the project along with meeting commitments made to the State of Indiana and customers as part of the acquisition of the business by IFM Investors in 2015.
With ITRCC making a significant investment in the Toll Road, the largest project undertaken since its initial construction, it was imperative that the process ensured the delivery of a high-quality product. To ensure the quality program, ITRCC required the preferred contractor to commit to an extended warranty for the 292 lane miles of pavement and the 55 bridges, ramps and interchanges included as part of the project. The warranty program will deliver improved certainty around quality and minimize the risk of future lane closures across the corridor. The project outcomes have been highly successful with completion of works well ahead of schedule and in advance of the July 4th holiday and heavy summer travel volumes. The project has seen over 100,000 work hours without a lost time injury, an exceptional outcome and reflective of the successful partnering and procurement on this project.
Customer Service and Marketing Outreach Award Winner
State Road and Tollway Authority (Georgia) is a state-level, independent Authority created by the Georgia General Assembly to operate tolled transportation facilities within the State and act as the transportation-financing arm for the State.
The award is presented to the State Road and Tollway Authority for their Commuter Credits program, a three-pronged pilot program that focused on providing alternatives to travelling solo during the peak periods on Atlanta’s congested I-85 corridor.
The three-prongs included:
- Shift Commute – The goal was to reduce southbound congestion on I-85 during the morning peak period (7 am to 8 am). The program was by invitation only, to Peach Pass customers who commute four to five times per week during this period.
- Start a Carpool – The goal was to attract carpools to the Express Lanes. The program was open to carpools with at least one Peach Pass customer and offered multiple incentives including $3 per day toll credits (up to $100) and monthly drawings for $25 in toll credits.
- Ride Transit – The goal was to shift auto trips during the peak periods to Xpress bus trips. The program awarded toll lane credits to people who used GRTA Xpress routes instead of utilizing their Peach Pass toll accounts during commute periods.
Social Responsibility Award Winner
North Texas Tollway Authority (Texas) is an organization sanctioned by the State of Texas to develop and maintain high-quality roadways in North Texas. NTTA tollways are designed to relieve traffic congestion and get North Texans around the region quickly, easily and safely.
The Social Responsibility Award is presented to NTTA for their role in a nationwide safety campaign aimed at raising awareness to end texting and driving. The project, “Spreading the Dangers of Driving ‘Intexticated’ and Urging Red Thumbs for All” encourages drivers to make some part of their thumbs red to remind them to keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road at all times. It’s an old-school solution to a 21st Century issue, fueled by the evolution and accessibility of technology at drivers’ fingertips.
Technology Award Winner
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission
(Pennsylvania) was created in 1937 to construct, finance, operate, and maintain the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a controlled-access highway running for 550 miles across the state of Pennsylvania.
The award is presented to PTC for their 511PAConnect program, a cross agency collaborative framework for addressing roadway closures and trapped queue situations, and a communications tool for establishing two-way communications with trapped travelers.
Snowstorms, floods, icing, crashes and other extreme events happen all too frequently. When these events occur and roadways close, motorists can become trapped between exits on limited access highways, or stranded by impassible conditions on local roads. In January 2016, Winter Storm Jonas caused hundreds of travelers to be trapped in vehicles on a remote, mountainous stretch of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
The 511PAConnect communications tool is not a mobile app and requires no initial download, prior knowledge, or action from motorists. It pushes official messages and opens a dialogue with geo-targeted customers through a dynamic website, a text messaging system, and an IVR phone system.
Toll Operations, Engineering and Maintenance Award Winner
Road and Transport Authority (RTA) Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) is the major independent government transportation authority in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which was founded in 2005 and is responsible for planning and executing transport or traffic projects, along with legislation and strategic plans of transportation in the city.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates has become a star on the world stage in finance, tourism, construction, and transportation. Thousands flock to the Emirate state to experience its luxuries and architectural marvels. The RTA is being awarded for the Salik Toll System Expansion project’s smart initiatives benefitting almost three million existing customers on the toll road, plus the thousands of new (expat) arrivals every day.
The goals of the project were:
· To enable 80% of all tolling transactions and interactions to be coordinated online, and
· To increase mobile adoption to 25% by 2018. Dubai is working to become paperless by 2021; all while embracing the Dubai Government’s newly announced Happiness strategy, aiming for Dubai to be the happiest city in the world.
Private Sector Innovation Award Winner
Raytheon
(Massachusetts) successfully implemented a “Statewide Design-Build-Maintain” All Electronic Tolling solution on the Massachusetts I-90 and three Boston river crossings achieving a “Go-Live” date of October 2016. The effort included an advanced All Electronic Toll System (AETS) roadside Toll Zone Infrastructure and a next-generation AET System Host providing one of the highest performing AETS systems for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT).
Under the project, Raytheon installed 16 gantries eastbound and 16 gantries westbound with new high performance AETS on mainline roadways to collect tolls (transponder and/or video) at highway speeds. The solution enables MassDOT to reduce highway congestion, improve safety, reduce emissions, and increase revenue. The configurable AETS Host provides the latest technologies featuring an adaptable business rule engine. The design-build component of the project featured accelerated construction methods to minimize lane closures, and advanced toll zone equipment optimized for rapid installation and minimal maintenance.
The Raytheon team included Liddell Brothers, SPS New England, VHB and CDM Smith.
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The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries and on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.
Tags: IBTTA, International Bridge Tunnel & Turnpike Association, Toll Excellence Awards
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