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Tolling 101

Learn more about the evolution of tolling and modern tolling technology

Evolution of tolling

Cash Only

The first U.S. toll road opened in 1792.
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Mixed Cash and Electronic Tolling Collection (ETC)

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, electronic tolling collection (ETC) began in the U.S. 
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Dedicated ETC

In the mid-to-late 1990s, electronic tolling began to be the preferred payment method and started to eliminate cash collection.
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Open Road Tolling (ORT)

Removing huge toll booths from the road started in the early 1990s and picked up in the early 2000s. 
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All-Electronic Tolling (AET)

A combination of open road and electronic payments has become the standard throughout the 2000s. All tolling alternatives evaluated as part of this study will consider this type of tolling system.
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All-Electronic Tolling

  • High-speed tolling
  • No cash accepted on roads/no stopping
  • Detect vehicles
  • Classify vehicles
  • Read transponder or license plate

Priced Managed Lanes

  • The driver has a choice to use the toll lane or not
  • Toll rates are dependent on the demand for usage of the managed lanes
  • As the photo to the right shows, the managed lane (or in this case express lane) has a toll associated with it and has less congestion compared to the non-tolled lanes to the right

Tolling Benefits

Sustainable Funding Source with Improving Fuel Efficiency and Electric Vehicles 

Sustainable Funding Source with Improving Fuel Efficiency and Electric Vehicles 

As fuel efficient and electric vehicle technologies advance, the motor fuel tax becomes a less effective method for collecting funding for transportation. Tolling could provide a funding boost to Michigan's transportation infrastructure.

Improved Road and Bridge Conditions Lower Vehicle Operating Costs

Improved Road and Bridge Conditions Lower Vehicle Operating Costs

On a toll road regularly maintained by its own fees, the dangers of potholes and other sources of costly vehicle damage will be greatly reduced. FHWA estimates that each dollar spent on road, highway, and bridge improvements returns $5.20 in the form of lower vehicle maintenance costs, decreased delays, reduced fuel consumption, improved safety, lower road and bridge maintenance costs, and reduced emissions as a result of improved traffic flow.

More Predictable Travel Times

More Predictable Travel Times

A 2019 study from the state of North Carolina, showed that installing a toll road led to decreased congestion on surrounding roads and more predictable travel times for all drivers in the study area. High-speed all-electronic tolling technologies eliminate the need to stop or slow to pay cash tolls.

Congestion Relief

Congestion Relief

Congestion pricing benefits drivers and businesses by reducing delays and stress, by increasing the predictability of trip times, and by allowing for more deliveries per hour for businesses. 

Tolling Challenges

Traffic Diversion

Traffic Diversion

Drivers diverting from a toll road and seeking other routes is often a challenge with tolling. Potential diversion needs to be analyzed and considered in detail in light of the overall objectives of any tolling program.
Tolling Is Not Equitable

Tolling Is Not Equitable

Tolls can affect low-income populations the hardest. This study will explore discount and equity programs to alleviate the burden of tolls for low-income populations. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) has done this well with the VDOT Toll Relief program.
More Expensive to Collect

More Expensive to Collect

The cost of collecting toll revenue includes the cost of toll collection equipment, back-office software and staff, and customer service systems. Other sources of funding, such as motor fuel taxes, also have administrative costs associated with them. While the cost of collection for tolling has been declining over time as the technology improves, it remains higher than costs to collect motor fuel taxes.

Double Taxation

Double Taxation

Michigan already has a system designed to collect federal motor fuel taxes, vehicle registration, and other taxes and fees to build and maintain its infrastructure. However, there are concerns about the long-term viability of motor fuel taxes given improving fuel efficiency and electric vehicles. Charging motorists for a toll and motor fuel tax could be viewed by some as double taxation: a motor fuel tax, a vehicle registration fee and a toll.

Facts

Today’s AET tolling technology does not require toll booths or stopping. Drivers can continue to travel at highway speeds.

Only need space for a gantry to be built on the mainline.

Collection costs average between 12% and 18% of the tolls.

Myths

Tolling means you have to put toll booths in the middle of the road.
You have to add toll both plazas at every freeway exit.
It costs 50% of the toll revenue to collect the tolls.

States evaluating new tolling programs:

  • RI: Truck-only tolling on bridges (operational)
  • IN: Complete interstate system
  • WI: Complete interstate system
  • MN: Interstates and limited access
  • CT: Interstates and limited access
  • OR: Portland region (I-5 and I-205)
  • MI: All limited-access freeways (P.A. 140 of 2020)
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Tolling Resources

MDOT's Talking Michigan Transportation Podcast

Informational Videos

Video Description
Video Location
What are managed lanes?
WSDOT: Why rates change on express toll lanes
Michigan House Transportation Subcomittee Meeting Testimony

Resources

Link Description
Link Location
Federal tolling programs
Tolling program administration
Tolling and pricing FAQs
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