Florida's Turnpike Enterprise (FTE) recently announced the selection of TransCore's eGo Plus RFID sticker tag to upgrade its current technology that has been in use since the late 1990s.
FTE manages the statewide SunPass system used on 460 miles of Florida's toll highways. The paper-thin, batteryless tags will be sold as the SunPass "Mini" and be available summer 2008 at regular SunPass outlets. The multimillion dollar order is for 1.5 million eGo Plus tags.
The newer, more versatile and affordable tags overcome the cost barrier to widespread adoption of electronic toll collection technology, making it more attractive to migrate to all electronic toll roads and increase the number of customers who pay tolls wirelessly versus manually. The more than three million hardcase SunPass tags currently in use will work alongside the new "mini" tags. Around the country, the eGo Plus technology has also been adopted for high speed tolling by Houston's Harris County Toll Road Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Washington Department of Transportation.
As technology continues to erase boundaries and convenience becomes central to customer service, acceptance of wireless payments systems for other applications such as paying for parking or access to gated communities has grown. Throughout Florida, the use and ease of the SunPass system has spread to airport parking operations with airports in the midst of deploying interoperable payment systems in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
"Florida's Turnpike Enterprise continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving motorists' experience by implementing innovative open road tolling designs and providing newer interoperable technology," said John Simler, president of TransCore Intelligent Transportation Systems Group. "After a decade of providing SunPass RFID technology, TransCore recognized the need to provide FTE with next-generation technology to support evolving transportation needs."
With the growing interest in "greener" technology, the newer, sleeker, batteryless technology provides environmental benefits as well. As more customers shift to paying tolls electronically, this reduces congestion and eliminates idle times at toll plazas, significantly reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality. The smaller profile tag also consumes less petroleum based raw material to manufacture and reduces transportation and shipping requirements. The batteryless design of the tag eliminates the additional cost and demand for batteries' and subsequent storage and disposal requirements.
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