Conduent Transportation has been awarded a contract by the Richmond Metropolitan Transportation Authority (RMTA) to implement a pay-by-plate toll collection system.
This initiative - a Tolling as a Service (TaaS) model - is designed to support the authority’s broader transition to all-electronic tolling on its roadways in the US state of Virginia.
Conduent says its solution enables motorists to pay using a range of options, including digital wallets and credit and debit cards.
Under the agreement, Conduent will manage all aspects of the tolling system in the greater metro area of Richmond - from image-based transactions processing to invoicing and payment collection.
Later this year, Conduent will begin delivering tolling services for image-based transactions as RMTA moves the 3.4-mile (5.5km) Powhite Parkway to all-electronic tolling, eliminating toll booths and allowing drivers to pay without stopping via E-ZPass transponders or Pay-by-Plate ALPR technology.
Similar upgrades are planned for the authoritiy’s Downtown Expressway and Boulevard Bridge, with full implementation expected by 2027.
The implementation of the TaaS model ushers in a “new era” of smarter, more enjoyable driving, said Adam Appleby, group president, public sector solutions at Conduent.
“This forward-looking approach optimises toll collection by integrating advanced system features that prioritise customer experience and meeting the needs of today’s motorists while delivering exceptional operational outcomes," Appleby adds.
Conduent operates many of the largest toll systems in the US: its work includes an express lane tolling system for Virginia DoT on I-64 in the Hampton Roads region of the state.
The firm also recently completed implementations for the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission and the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority.
