TransCore Debuts Toll System Design Advancement, Introduces In-Lane Replenishment

HARRISBURG, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--TransCore debuts its new “in-lane” replenishment system that allows a motorist to purchase electronic toll collection tags and replenish their existing tag accounts right within the lane, making access to electronic toll collection immediate. First of its kind in the Americas, in-lane replenishment or ILR is an enhancement to the AutoExpreso toll system TransCore developed for the Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority (PRHTA) in 2004. PRHTA was also the first U.S. toll authority to adopt TransCore’s radio frequency identification (RFID) paper-thin windshield sticker tag.

Within days of in-lane replenishment’s introduction, 45 percent of all program tag sales were transacted through the first four ILR lanes, since then two additional lanes have been added. Over $1.3 million was collected after the first month. Now after the initial roll out, island tag sales have doubled, and the PRHTA has ordered six additional ILR lanes and is contemplating multiple ILR lanes at the busier toll plazas.

“Introducing a system that offers electronic toll collection to a wider section of the motorist population is crucial, particularly in areas with strong pockets of cash-paying customers,” explained John Simler, TransCore's Intelligent Transportation Systems Group president. “In fact, it’s expected that over half of ILR transactions will be conducted with paper currency.”

The ILR lanes enable electronic toll collection to reach more customers by providing convenient, at-the-window service in the toll lane. This program demonstrates the authority's and TransCore’s commitment toward enhancing customer convenience and accessibility through innovative designs that increase AutoExpreso use by all drivers.

The ILR design works similar to the reverse-debit process. A tag can be purchased and activated with $20 while the patron is in the toll lane. The tag is read with a barcode scanner and activated through the Customer Service Center application running on the touch-screen terminal. Once the transaction is complete, the patron leaves the lane with the active tag, and the toll is deducted from the newly activated account.

For cars that already have a tag and wish to replenish their account, the ILR system reads the tag on the vehicle and populates the account information on the touch-screen. The patron provides the attendant the method of payment, the amount is entered, the account is immediately updated, and the patron leaves the lane with a receipt showing the updated account balance. The current toll is also deducted from the user's account as the vehicle exits the lane.

About TransCore

With installations in 46 countries, more than 100 patents and pioneering applications of RFID, GPS and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's technical expertise is unparalleled in the markets it serves. TransCore's 70-year heritage spans the development of RFID transportation applications at Los Alamos National Labs to implementation of the nation's first electronic toll collection system.

TransCore’s extensive global experience with tolling systems includes more than 6,200 installed electronic toll collection lanes worldwide and 22 customer service centers. TransCore offers an extensive suite of enterprise software applications, business process outsourcing, system integration, customer care and maintenance services to provide complete solutions, configurable to customers’ requirements. In 2007, TransCore received the TEAMFL (Transportation and Expressway Authority Membership of Florida) Chairman’s Award for the most innovative transportation project of the year for the design and installation of the tolling solution for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority (THCEA) reversible express lanes. This project is the world’s first reversible lane, open road tolling system in the world.

TransCore operates as a unit of Roper Industries. Roper Industries is a market-driven, diversified growth company with trailing twelve month revenues of $2.3 billion, and is a component of the Fortune 1000, Standard & Poor’s S&P Mid-Cap 400 and the Russell 1000 Indexes. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including water, energy, radio frequency and research/medical applications. For more information, visit www.transcore.com or www.roperind.com.