R.I. TBA’s new tolling system creates open road to smoother operations

CLEAR LANE: The R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority implemented new technology to collect bridge tolls more efficiently. Pictured, from left, are R.I. Bridge and Turnpike Authority Director of Tolling Katie Coleman, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Goular, Executive Director Lori Caron Silveira and Director of Engineering Eric Seabury. 
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN
CLEAR LANE: The R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority implemented new technology to collect bridge tolls more efficiently. Pictured, from left, are R.I. Bridge and Turnpike Authority Director of Tolling Katie Coleman, Chief Financial Officer Jeff Goular, Executive Director Lori Caron Silveira and Director of Engineering Eric Seabury. 
PBN PHOTO/DAVID HANSEN

PBN Innovative Companies 2022
GOVERNMENT: R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority


DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, with fewer people traveling on the roads and opting to stay home, the R.I. Turnpike and Bridge Authority used the opportunity to convert to an all-electronic tolling system. The real kicker? RITBA began this innovative project only using its own on-site staff and got remote-only help from its vendor, Kapsch TrafficCom, which was located in Texas at the time.

The quasi-state agency maintains four major and 10 minor bridges along Route 138 through Jamestown, as well as the approaches to Rhode Island’s four major bridges – the Newport Claiborne Pell, Mount Hope, Jamestown Verrazzano and Sakonnet River bridges.

The RITBA team phased each toll collector shift onto the new electronic system fairly slowly, two lanes at a time, taking months to get the entire project done.

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“The two outside lanes were our pilot program,” RITBA Executive Director Lori Silveira said, comparing the beginning of the process to performing surgery on someone with the surgeon giving instructions over the phone from the Lone Star State.

Using human toll collectors meant that cars had to stop and start constantly to pay tolls going onto the Newport Bridge; now traffic is smooth thanks to the new technology. RITBA is now urging as many people as it can to sign up for a transponder, as it’s a quick and cheap way to pay tolls.

RITBA isn’t quite done with the project, even if the all-electronic tolling system is in business. The agency is installing a new gantry on the Newport Bridge, and the old toll booths are set to be moved sometime next year.

“Every moment I look out the window and see traffic moving smoothly is rewarding,” Silveira said.

However, COVID-19 forced the agency to think outside the box during the process, RITBA Director of Tolling Katie Coleman said. Some staff got sick during the pandemic, forcing others to work double shifts. There were also supply chain delays that caused disruptions along the way.

“We had to try even if we failed, and we were only able to reach our goals with the staff and the vendor cooperating,” Coleman said.

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