Title

"News & Issues" piece on the $23 million Transpass electronic toll collecting sy

Authors

Jay Davis

Source

Maine Times

Date

6-15-2000

Pages

9

Abstract

"News & Issues" piece on the $23 million Transpass electronic toll collecting system in use on the Maine Turnpike. The Maine Turnpike Authority (MTA) is now considering an alternative system now in use throughout the Northeast. The MTA has 80,000 Transpass users who account for up to 30 percent of the $55 million collected in tolls each year, but whether their $15 deposit will be refunded if the MTA switches to the E-Z Pass system hasn't been decided. Transpass is beset by two nagging problems. Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania and Delaware use a simpler technology called Mark IV, which is not compatible with Transpass. And the second problem is accuracy. The system's video cameras have never been activated because there are questions about whether or not they work properly. As a result, not a single toll evader has been prosecuted, though they might account for up to $3 million a year in toll losses.

Subjects

Maine Turnpike Authority

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