Ministerial Statement: Countdown on to free-flow tolling ...

[ozbob]

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
31/05/2009

Countdown on to free-flow tolling on Queensland Motorways

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace today (31 May) launched Queensland Motorways' free-flow tolling brand - go via - and its new range of tolling products and payment options, marking another major milestone towards the transition to free-flow tolling on the Gateway and Logan motorways from July.

Mr Wallace said the transition to free-flow tolling was a first for Queensland, and it would deliver a consistently safe and efficient travel experience for motorists.

"A new era for Queensland motorists is about to start with the introduction of free-flow tolling on the Gateway and Logan motorways," Mr Wallace said.

"Electronic tolling will continue as a payment option for motorists, however, cash booths will be removed with motorists able to choose from a range of video tolling options which do not require a tag in the vehicle to pay the toll.

"Coming into effect in July, it should start making a big difference to travel time across the network. It' s estimated it will save up to 10 minutes travel time for current cash paying motorists using the Gateway and Logan motorway network when the transition is complete.

"When the $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project is completed, motorists can expect to save up to an extra 15 minutes across the network.

"Capacity through free-flow tolling points is three to five times faster than travelling through cash lanes. It is also far safer with no need for weaving, accelerating and merging at the toll plazas.

"Almost 70 per cent of motorists who use the Gateway and Logan motorways every day are prepared for the introduction of free-flow tolling and have tags in their vehicles.

"Every week, tens of thousands of Queenslanders are joining this expanding group of prepared motorists as they sign up for a tag.

"To mark the introduction of free-flow tolling, Queensland Motorways has introduced a new brand for its range of products and payment options.
"Following extensive market research on the products and payment options, the name go via was developed. Via is Italian for way - to go via is to get to your destination.

"Motorists can select a number of go via payment options including a go viatag account, which will work the same as existing E toll tags; a go viavideo account, which won't require you to carry an in-vehicle tag and provides a solution for motorcyclists; or go viavideo passes, which will enable motorists to arrange to pay for single or multiple trips without setting up an account.

"I encourage all motorists, from frequent to casual users, to prepare for free-flow tolling by considering their payment options now."

A go viatag will be the cheapest way to pay for tolls and is available now. There is no minimum usage fee, no deposit and no rental fee. To set up a go viatag account you simply prepay $25 in toll credit, w hich never expires, and the tag can be used on all current and future toll roads across Australia, including Brisbane's soon to be opened CLEM7 Tunnel.

Queensland Motorways CEO Phil Mumford said motorists could sign up for a go viatag account now, however, go viavideo payment options would not be available for purchase until 1 July.

"Cash will continue as a payment method, it just won't be on the road," Mr Mumford said.

"Instead, it will be through other channels including our Customer Service Centres and an extensive participating retailer network."

From 1 July, go viavideo accounts and go viavideo passes (purchased by credit card) will be available online at govia.com.au, over the phone at 1300 046 842 and from Queensland Motorways Customer Service Centres at Murarrie and Heathwood.

The go viavideo passes also will be widely available from an extensive retailer network of petrol stations, newsagents an d convenience stores, as far as the Tweed in the south, Toowoomba in the west and the Sunshine Coast in the north.

"Motorists who select a go viavideo account or a go viavideo pass will pay a 40 cent video matching fee per toll point in addition to the toll, to cover the costs of the video matching process," Mr Mumford said.

When the transition to free-flow tolling commences in July, motorists will see the closure of cash lanes and the progressive removal of toll booths. All motorists will be directed through dedicated E toll lanes. During this time motorists will be tolled at the new overhead toll points not at the toll plazas.

When the transition to free-flow tolling is complete, motorists will drive on open motorways with tolls automatically calculated as they pass under a toll point.

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[ozbob]

https://www.etoll.com.au/etoll/login.aspx

At least the motorists will arrive at gridlock quicker!   

[ozbob]

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
10/11/2009

Successful transition to free-flow tolling now complete

The transition to free-flow tolling on the Gateway and Logan motorways has successfully concluded, with all associated roadworks now completed and traffic flowing at full speed through all toll points.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the original motorway cash toll booths closed on 22 July 2009 and motorists had quickly adjusted to the new free-flow tolling system that replaced them.

"Following the closure of the booths, a substantial civil works program continued over the past three months, involving the demolition of toll booths and the reinstatement of road surface and associated works around toll points," Mr Wallace said.

"With those works now complete, the people of Brisbane can now see the full benefits of free-flow tolling in place.

"By eliminating the need for drivers to stop to pay tolls, it immediately increases safety and the average speed of traffic flow, with motorists able to save up to 10 minutes in travel time across the L ogan and Gateway motorway network.

"Since the introduction of free-flow tolling, traffic incidents around the toll points have reduced by as much as 80 per cent, as cars no longer have to weave and merge in and out of toll plazas."

Mr Wallace said the free-flow tolling project had been delivered two years earlier than originally planned and would enable Queensland Motorways to make improvements to traffic management in the future.

"Importantly, it allows Queensland Motorways to digitally capture and analyse information about the vehicles using the motorways," he said.

"The new technology and systems provide the platform to enhance traffic management and overall capacity of the motorways for many years to come."

Queensland Motorways CEO Phil Mumford said the project's success was largely due to the collaborative partnerships formed between the Queensland Motorways team, IBM, Thales, Vitronic and the Logan Alliance.

"IBM delivered the central system and focused on aligning the business and IT resources during the project," Mr Mumford said.

"Thales and Vitronic delivered the roadside system, and the Logan Alliance - comprising Queensland Motorways, BMD Constructions and Kellogg Brown & Root - delivered the civil works.

"Drawing on the specialised expertise of our project partners, we have developed and implemented highly sophisticated roadside and back office systems, as well as new interchanges on the motorways to allow the safe entry and exit of vehicles in the higher speed free-flow tolling environment.

"The technology and system developed and implemented for free-flow tolling will greatly assist us in providing customers with access to information such as projected travel times and help them make informed travel decisions well into the future.

"The idea is to ultimately have 'a motorway that thinks' - a more intelligent solution that will give our customers a better ran ge of options for their journeys."


Quick Facts

    * More than 341,000 go viatags issued since 1 July
    * More than 343,000 passes purchased since 1 July
    * Almost 1.3 million visits to go via website since 1 July
    * In preparation for free-flow tolling, all toll points on the Gateway and Logan motorways were upgraded
    * The interchanges at Stapylton Road, Heathwood, and Loganlea Road, Loganlea were upgraded to give motorists sufficient time to safely adjust their speed as they enter and exit the motorway to accommodate higher speed traffic associated with free-flow tolling.

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[Dean Quick]

They must be so pleased with themselves?? If only there was as much interest on improving our rail services as there is in widening/extending and speeding up the road network.