Norwalk information-technology giant Xerox Corp. is devising an electronic toll system that will enable Los Angeles County, Calif., to regulate rush-hour traffic on its clogged motorways.
Xerox’s Affiliated Computer Services Inc. (ACS) unit in Dallas says its variable toll system will allow highway vehicles bearing a single commuter and others to pay a fee to travel on L.A.’s High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes.
Connecticut authorities have promoted the idea of opening the state’s HOV lanes to all motorists to lessen rush-hour congestion, and to establish tolls along the I-95 corridor to relieve congestion and generate revenue.
In California, the L.A. County Metropolitan Transportation Authority is converting portions of Interstates 10 and 110 from “car pool” lanes to ExpressLanes or high occupancy toll lanes that motorists can travel for a fee, ACS said.
The ExpressLanes will be designed to keep rush-hour traffic moving at a steady 45 miles per hour. The other highway lanes will remain free for all vehicles.
“Essentially this project will expand the capacity of the interstate without adding expensive new lanes.” said David Amoriell, group president of transportation solutions for ACS.
Construction to add the toll-collection electronics and other infrastructure is to begin by mid-year with the lanes scheduled to open to traffic in late 2012. ACS is on the project team led by Atkinson Construction and includes AECOM and Steiny & Co.
Subscribers’ vehicles will be equipped with a transponder akin to the E-Z Pass electronic toll devices used by motorists in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and other states.
ACS say it manages worldwide 1.4 billion toll transactions annually and 10 million transponder accounts.
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