Cashless Tolling Is Coming to Kansas Turnpike in 2024

[Stay on top of transportation news: Get TTNews in your inbox.]

Making driving safer between the Oklahoma border and Kansas Metropolis is among the many advantages of a large Kansas Turnpike Authority venture to replace its Nineteen Fifties tolling system by changing 21 toll plazas with overhead gantry cameras and transponder sensors.

“Cashless tolling shall be safer, extra handy and extra environment friendly for all drivers on the Kansas Turnpike,” stated Steve Hewitt, KTA CEO. “With greater than 65% of shoppers utilizing a Ok-TAG or suitable tolling machine, an growing old workforce and a money toll system in want of alternative, the time is correct to transition to cashless tolling.”

The cashless system will allow free-flow site visitors between the KTA and connecting roadways. Drivers will not must sluggish or cease close to toll plazas as soon as the present 21 toll plazas are demolished and reconfigured (inside 18 to 24 months).

One of many causes KTA determined to transform to cashless tolling was its growing old money assortment tools. Fairly than spend cash on a direct alternative, KTA determined to spend money on a cashless system for improved operational effectivity, higher security and better buyer ease. Price financial savings was not the first motivation to maneuver to cashless conversion, anticipated by mid-2024.

Some drivers now discover the KTA’s entry/exit system (created within the Nineteen Fifties when it opened) advanced. Thus, KTA officers have devised a better system that shall be rolled out by transferring its tolling factors onto the roadway itself. Overhead gantries shall be put in that establish a driver’s license plate and or Ok-TAG or comparable suitable transponder windshield gadgets.

Clients shall be billed based mostly on what number of gantries they cross below. No charges have been established for truckers or drivers of different automobiles. The KTA board has not but accredited particular toll charges per mile for cashless tolling, however there shall be two toll charges: one for transponder gadgets and one other for photographs taken by gantry cameras of license plates.

“Clients utilizing a Ok-TAG or a suitable tolling machine will proceed to pay the bottom toll on the Kansas Turnpike,” stated Hewitt.

The KTA board is reviewing toll fee data with plans to find out cashless toll charges in October, famous Rachel Bell, KTA director of enterprise providers and buyer relations.

In the previous few years, KTA has made enhancements that profit truckers, equivalent to growing vertical clearance on 69 overhead bridges. (Kansas Turnpike Authority)

The 236-mile turnpike doesn’t obtain any state or federal funds regardless of being a part of the interstate system. As an alternative it depends on toll income to fund its preservation and modernization.

“Changing our 65-plus-year legacy system to cashless tolling is a posh funding of roughly $85 million, however one which was needed resulting from growing old tools and our purpose to modernize,” stated Bruce Meisch, KTA’s know-how director, who’s managing the cashless tolling venture. “Our whole system is altering from the roadway with new toll zones and tools to a wholly new back-office system together with customer-facing instruments.”

Truck site visitors is growing yearly on the turnpike. In fiscal 12 months 2023 (from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023), 4.36 million industrial automobiles traveled on the KTA, up almost 5% from the earlier fiscal 12 months. Some 4.13 million industrial automobiles traveled alongside KTA in fiscal 12 months 2021.

“KTA is making appreciable enhancements to our system with truckers in thoughts,” stated David Jacobson, engineering director. “Cashless tolling will get rid of the necessity for drivers to cease, which saves money and time, particularly for industrial site visitors. Over time toll plazas shall be eliminated, easing congestion and bettering site visitors circulate.”

A truck service parking space. (Kansas Turnpike Authority)

In the previous few years, KTA has made enhancements that profit truckers, equivalent to growing vertical clearance on 69 overhead bridges, including 150 new truck parking stalls at three service areas and lengthening acceleration/deceleration lanes at service areas and a few interchanges.

When cashless tolling begins in mid-2024, truckers will profit from extra enhancements: wrong-way detection notifications, signage exhibiting out there truck parking areas at service areas and an account administration system that higher accommodates fleets.

Need extra information? Take heed to immediately’s every day briefing beneath or go right here for more information: