Cofiroute USA, which introduced toll road automation on the 91 Express Lanes in Orange County, California, has taken its knowledge of toll road technology to a new level with the installation of a fully integrated back office system for the 91 Express Lanes that manages every operating, reporting and customer service detail.
The new system was installed as part of a five-year, US$38.5 million contract awarded earlier this year to Cofiroute USA by the
The company worked with its software partner, TollPlus, to meet the specific requirements of OCTA. This included designing a system that automated many functions and created efficiencies that will permit OCTA to better track toll revenues and control operating costs over the long term. In addition, the new 91 Express Lanes system from Cofiroute USA interfaces with other toll road systems, including the Transportation Corridor Agencies and its toll roads, 261, 241 and 73 in Orange County.
With the new system, OCTA can directly perform most functions and has the flexibility to change system details quickly, such as in its congestion pricing model (changing toll fees based on time of day) and language modifications. Most system modifications can be done quickly without requiring a software upgrade, expensive tech support or installing an entirely new application.
“It was a monumental task to switch over from the legacy systems we had in place and we were fortunate to have such great teams from the OCTA and Cofiroute USA working together, even around the clock, to launch the new system,” said Kirk Avila, general manager of the 91 Express Lanes of OCTA.
“We have streamlined all processes, which will save OCTA time and money in its daily operations,” said Jan Mittermeier, chief operating officer for Cofiroute USA Mittermeier. “OCTA and the 91 Express Lanes have again advanced the level of sophistication in automated toll road management.
"This flexibility is essential for toll road operators who want to minimise waste and maximise revenues,” said Mittermeier. “Working with TollPlus, we have been able to create a completely integrated solution for OCTA and the 91 Express Lanes that meets both their technological and customer service needs, while saving time and money. The result is a much more efficient and streamlined tolling experience for the customer.”
