A decade since Florida's Turnpike Enterprise first deployed electronic toll collection, the organisation's Director of Toll Operations Rick Nelson and Tom S. Knuckey of PBS&J look at progress. A decade on from the deployment of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise's state-wide SunPass pre-paid Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme, transponder sales have ballooned from 5,000 to more than 4,000,000. Over 70 per cent of the state's turnpike drivers participate in the system and transponder sales continue to gro
Florida drivers can choose among cash, gated all-electronic toll collection and open-road, non-stop tolling lanes.
RSS370 Florida's Turnpike Enterprise's state-wide SunPass pre-paid Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) programme, transponder sales have ballooned from 5,000 to more than 4,000,000. Over 70 per cent of the state's turnpike drivers participate in the system and transponder sales continue to grow at a rate of 60,000 per month.
SunPass electronic tolling was once available in only one county, at a total of four tolling plazas. Today, SunPass transponders can now be used on 460 miles of toll highways and most of the state's toll bridges, and at a growing number of airport parking facilities.
Currently, 36 of the SunPass-only lanes are equipped with overhead radio frequency readers that automatically deduct tolls, allowing customers to travel at highway speeds through open-road tolling facilities. One of these express lanes can accommodate more than 2,200 vehicles per hour, or five times more than a cash collection lane with a manned toll booth.
To minimise the occurrence of undetected system malfunctions in SunPass lanes, the Turnpike Enterprise has also implemented a software system that allows the maintenance and engineering departments to monitor the lanes. The Toll Operations Team staffs the SunWatch Operations Center around the clock to manage the electronic and mechanical components of the toll lane network, assessing incoming incident reports and responding to service and repair requests.
The SunPass Mini RFID sticker transponder, which does not require batteries, does not signal information to the user. Bargain-conscious customers can save money by purchasing the credit card-sized Mini at only $4.99 (compared to $25 for the hard-case transponder).
According to Orlando Torres, Turnpike Enterprise Deputy Director of Toll Operations, there has been an almost 30 per cent increase in transponder sales since the appearance of the Mini:
"We offer the SunPass Mini as a lower-cost option to encourage new customers to convert from cash tolls to the convenience, cost savings and environmental benefits of electronic tolling." Purchasing transponders is convenient, even for customers who prefer not to shop online. Both the hard-case and the Mini are available at several retail stores, and at Turnpike service plaza gas stations and gift shops. "The Turnpike Enterprise makes it easy for everyone to go cashless," says Torres.
Vehicle engine idle time is reduced by at least one minute every time a customer uses SunPass instead of cash to pay a toll. For the 2.6 billion SunPass transactions conducted since 1999, that amounts to 1.8 million days that customers would have otherwise have spent waiting in line to pay cash tolls.
The smaller SunPass Mini also provides environmental benefits. The Mini consumes less petroleum-based raw material to manufacture, and can be shipped relatively inexpensively, requiring less in the way of transportation and shipping than the hard-case transponder. The battery-less design of the Mini eliminates the additional cost for batteries, and subsequent storage and disposal requirements.
SunPass Plus customers have 'Easy Pay' automatic replenishment accounts (sustained by on-file credit or check card details) which allow them to enter and depart Tampa International Airport's economy long-term parking and Orlando International Airport's parking garages without stopping to take entry tickets or to pay fees when exiting. SunPass transponders record their parking times and bill their SunPass accounts automatically as they exit via designated SunPass lanes. If a parking fee exceeds the balance in the customer's Easy Pay account, SunPass automatically charges the checking or credit card account on file and emails a receipt.
"SunPass parking at Tampa International has produced excellent and growing revenue for the airport, along with positive feedback from customers who take advantage of this new service offering," says Torres. "We hope to make SunPass parking available at Miami and Palm Beach International Airports by the end of this year."
Sunpassages, the Turnpike Enterprise's monthly customer newsletter, delivers news about programme changes and improvements, along with highway construction and traffic updates, frequently asked questions, a toll calculator and a message from Turnpike Enterprise Executive Director, James L. Ely.
Every fall, the Turnpike Enterprise invites customers to participate in a satisfaction survey. In a testament to the success of the customer outreach programme, Ely reported superb survey results in the July 2009 issue of Sunpassages: 93 per cent of SunPass customers responding felt they receive value in the form of safety, service and convenience; 96 per cent would recommend the Turnpike system to family and friends; and 95 per cent are satisfied with the value they receive from the SunPass programme.
"At present we rely on cameras to photograph license plates on vehicles that don't have transponders that are compatible with our system. Our goal, and the goal of many other tolling agencies nationwide, is to develop a method for states to share license plate information that will allow all electronic customers to use cashless lanes in any participating state," says Torres.
When interoperability is achieved, the Turnpike Enterprise and other toll agencies may have the ability to exchange transaction information that can be used for improving customer service. Transponders may be adapted for a number of other uses, such as retail purchases. Tolling agencies nationwide will be able to participate in federally sponsored, intelligent transportation systems programs, such as iFlorida, using transponders to transmit real-time traffic information.
A decade on, the Turnpike Enterprise has barely tapped the potential of SunPass to improve the convenience of Florida travel.RSS
A decade since Florida's Turnpike Enterprise first deployed electronic toll collection, the organisation's Director of Toll Operations Rick Nelson and Tom S. Knuckey of PBS&J look at progress.
A decade on from the deployment ofSunPass electronic tolling was once available in only one county, at a total of four tolling plazas. Today, SunPass transponders can now be used on 460 miles of toll highways and most of the state's toll bridges, and at a growing number of airport parking facilities.
Better, faster, safer
With an eye to improving safety and further easing congestion, the Turnpike Enterprise initiated the conversion of 266 SunPass lanes to SunPass-only lanes in 2003. SunPass-only lanes allow customers to drive through tolling locations at speeds of up to 25mph.Currently, 36 of the SunPass-only lanes are equipped with overhead radio frequency readers that automatically deduct tolls, allowing customers to travel at highway speeds through open-road tolling facilities. One of these express lanes can accommodate more than 2,200 vehicles per hour, or five times more than a cash collection lane with a manned toll booth.
To minimise the occurrence of undetected system malfunctions in SunPass lanes, the Turnpike Enterprise has also implemented a software system that allows the maintenance and engineering departments to monitor the lanes. The Toll Operations Team staffs the SunWatch Operations Center around the clock to manage the electronic and mechanical components of the toll lane network, assessing incoming incident reports and responding to service and repair requests.
More convenient
SunPass customers have choices. They can choose from a larger, hard-case, battery-operated transponder or a credit card-sized sticker model that was introduced in 2008. The larger transponder signals toll payment and other SunPass account information to the user via lights and sounds.The SunPass Mini RFID sticker transponder, which does not require batteries, does not signal information to the user. Bargain-conscious customers can save money by purchasing the credit card-sized Mini at only $4.99 (compared to $25 for the hard-case transponder).
According to Orlando Torres, Turnpike Enterprise Deputy Director of Toll Operations, there has been an almost 30 per cent increase in transponder sales since the appearance of the Mini:
"We offer the SunPass Mini as a lower-cost option to encourage new customers to convert from cash tolls to the convenience, cost savings and environmental benefits of electronic tolling." Purchasing transponders is convenient, even for customers who prefer not to shop online. Both the hard-case and the Mini are available at several retail stores, and at Turnpike service plaza gas stations and gift shops. "The Turnpike Enterprise makes it easy for everyone to go cashless," says Torres.
Incentives to go electronic
Most toll plazas offer discounted tolls for SunPass customers to encourage programme participation because prepaid electronic tolling is a more efficient method for collecting tolls than cash tolling. Additionally, SunPass customers save money by reducing gasoline consumption, while reducing carbon emissions associated with engine idle.Vehicle engine idle time is reduced by at least one minute every time a customer uses SunPass instead of cash to pay a toll. For the 2.6 billion SunPass transactions conducted since 1999, that amounts to 1.8 million days that customers would have otherwise have spent waiting in line to pay cash tolls.
The smaller SunPass Mini also provides environmental benefits. The Mini consumes less petroleum-based raw material to manufacture, and can be shipped relatively inexpensively, requiring less in the way of transportation and shipping than the hard-case transponder. The battery-less design of the Mini eliminates the additional cost for batteries, and subsequent storage and disposal requirements.
Value-added benefits
SunPass technology has quickly expanded beyond highway tolling. SunPass Plus customers have been enjoying the added value of using their transponders for parking at Orlando International Airport since 2005, and in March of this year SunPass made its debut at Tampa International Airport parking facilities.SunPass Plus customers have 'Easy Pay' automatic replenishment accounts (sustained by on-file credit or check card details) which allow them to enter and depart Tampa International Airport's economy long-term parking and Orlando International Airport's parking garages without stopping to take entry tickets or to pay fees when exiting. SunPass transponders record their parking times and bill their SunPass accounts automatically as they exit via designated SunPass lanes. If a parking fee exceeds the balance in the customer's Easy Pay account, SunPass automatically charges the checking or credit card account on file and emails a receipt.
"SunPass parking at Tampa International has produced excellent and growing revenue for the airport, along with positive feedback from customers who take advantage of this new service offering," says Torres. "We hope to make SunPass parking available at Miami and Palm Beach International Airports by the end of this year."
More popular
"The Turnpike Enterprise's goals for SunPass include bringing as many customers to the programme as we can in order to make travel throughout Florida safe, pleasurable, and free of congestion," Torres continues. To that end, the Turnpike Enterprise focuses on customer feedback to get the input needed to make the programme as user-friendly and attractive as possible.Sunpassages, the Turnpike Enterprise's monthly customer newsletter, delivers news about programme changes and improvements, along with highway construction and traffic updates, frequently asked questions, a toll calculator and a message from Turnpike Enterprise Executive Director, James L. Ely.
Every fall, the Turnpike Enterprise invites customers to participate in a satisfaction survey. In a testament to the success of the customer outreach programme, Ely reported superb survey results in the July 2009 issue of Sunpassages: 93 per cent of SunPass customers responding felt they receive value in the form of safety, service and convenience; 96 per cent would recommend the Turnpike system to family and friends; and 95 per cent are satisfied with the value they receive from the SunPass programme.
SunPass facts and figures
Over 2.5 billion SunPass transactions since April 24, 1999 inception.
3.3 million SunPass accounts.
More than 4.4 million SunPass transponders, including SunPass Mini RFID stickers, activated.
70 per cent of all Florida toll transactions are SunPass.
266 lanes, including 36 overhead gantries allow vehicles to pass through at highway speeds.
Coming soon to a highway near you
SunPass is already compatible with other tolling systems in Florida, including Orlando-Orange County Expressway Authority's E-Pass, Lee County's LeeWay system for toll bridges and Miami-Dade Expressway Authority's toll roads. Currently, the Turnpike Enterprise is working with the IBTTA to establish inter- and intra-state interoperability among various tolling systems."At present we rely on cameras to photograph license plates on vehicles that don't have transponders that are compatible with our system. Our goal, and the goal of many other tolling agencies nationwide, is to develop a method for states to share license plate information that will allow all electronic customers to use cashless lanes in any participating state," says Torres.
When interoperability is achieved, the Turnpike Enterprise and other toll agencies may have the ability to exchange transaction information that can be used for improving customer service. Transponders may be adapted for a number of other uses, such as retail purchases. Tolling agencies nationwide will be able to participate in federally sponsored, intelligent transportation systems programs, such as iFlorida, using transponders to transmit real-time traffic information.
A decade on, the Turnpike Enterprise has barely tapped the potential of SunPass to improve the convenience of Florida travel.RSS
