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Kapsch TrafficCom’s the Tolling Wizard of Oz

Standfirst: Leading tolling technology solution manufacturer Kapsch TrafficCom has recently been appointed to deliver two major electronic tolling projects in Australia, as Guy Woodford reports Kapsch TrafficCom’s new key Australian contracts will see the Austrian firm use its multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) single gantry solution on the Eastern Distributor toll road in Sydney and the Legacy Way toll road in Brisbane. The MLFF single gantry solution includes innovative stereoscopic vehicle detection and classi
April 4, 2014 Read time: 4 mins
Leading tolling technology solution manufacturer Kapsch TrafficCom has recently been appointed to deliver two major electronic tolling projects in Australia, as Guy Woodford reports

259 Kapsch TrafficCom’s new key Australian contracts will see the Austrian firm use its multi-lane free-flow (MLFF) single gantry solution on the Eastern Distributor toll road in Sydney and the Legacy Way toll road in Brisbane. The MLFF single gantry solution includes innovative stereoscopic vehicle detection and classification, front and rear licence plate recognition, and 5.8GHz CEN DSRC communications with the vehicle’s onboard unit. Kapsch says its tolling technology offers many benefits including improved safety, reduced congestion and greater accuracy in demanding and intense traffic conditions.

As well as winning the two prized contracts, Kapsch has also begun its operation of a complete new vehicle tolling solution on the M5 South West Motorway in Sydney.

This project was implemented, tested and delivered in less than a year and replaces the previous ageing toll system. Kapsch was responsible for the complete installation of the vehicle tolling system (both DSRC and video), the gantry design using a single gantry solution, and manufacturing. The solution also included the delivery of part of the back office system which allows the toll operator to record, view, and process vehicle journeys.

“Winning these contracts is a great endorsement of the strength of our multi-lane free-flow tolling solutions and we look forward to providing a service to the crucial roads infrastructure of two of Australia’s most iconic cities,” said Soren Tellegen, managing director at Kapsch TrafficCom Australia. “It is great to build on our relationship with the management team of the Eastern Distributor tunnel and we look forward to forging an even deeper relationship with Brisbane City Council.” Kapsch has already been working with Brisbane City Council since 2009 to provide the tolling system on its Go-Between Bridge.

The Legacy Way Tunnel is Brisbane City Council’s new 4.6km road tunnel that will connect the Western Freeway at Toowong with the Inner City Bypass (ICB) at Kelvin Grove.

The tunnel is due to open in 2015 complete with the Kapsch tolling solution. The new route is designed to halve peak hour travel times between the Centenary Bridge and the Inner City Bypass. For the new tunnel Kapsch will deliver a single span gantry capable of tolling both directions of travel at the western portal. The solution is similar to what Kapsch recently delivered for the M5 upgrade project in Sydney.

In Sydney, the Eastern Distributor connects the city's north, south and east, and is an important link within Sydney's motorway orbital. It provides access to more than 160km of motorways, freeways and other main roads including those to world famous locations such as Bondi and Coogee beaches, Randwick Races, the tranquil waters of the Northern Beaches, and Sydney Airport. Kapsch’s tolling solution will go live at this site at the end of 2014.

For the past two years Kapsch has been working with the Eastern Distributor management company to support the current tolling system originally built by another systems integrator. The system has now reached the end of its useful life, prompting the imminent Kapsch replacement.

Meanwhile in Norway, Kapsch TrafficCom is supplying onboard units (OBUs) for the country’s electronic toll collection, AutoPASS. The Norwegian Public Road Administration, which is responsible for the Norwegian public road network, is currently adapting the standards for onboard units to the European Norm EN15509 and is replacing the native AutoPASS OBUs that are presently used.

Kapsch is delivering the first batch of its onboard units in Q1 2014– with the total quantity being delivered over the next four years.

Norbit was also successful in the AutoPASS tender, and Kapsch’s exact share of the OBUs delivery will be determined in consecutive tenders under the lifetime of the frame contract.

“We are particularly pleased about this first order from Norway,” said André Laux, executive board member of Kapsch TrafficCom. “Norway is an important strategic market to us. The trust shown by the Norwegian Road Administration underlines our excellence in the development and production of OBUs.” The OBUs designated for AutoPASS are produced by Kapsch’s own subsidiary, Kapsch Components, which is located in Vienna.

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