Idris & Excellence
At the recent International Bridge,Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Toll Excellence Awards 2007,Tampa's Reversible Express Lane (REL) received the International Presidents’ Award 2007 for the most creative,innovative and positive toll project. First opened to traffic in July 2006, the REL project is a nine mile elevated structure with reversible commuter lanes and an open road tolling (ORT) gantry. The entire operation is managed with a system of computer-controlled gates, cameras and variable message signs. In addition, tolls are collected using the world's first reversible ORT lanes, based on the Florida Turnpike Enterprise Sunpass transponder system. This system relies on Idris detection technology to determine vehicle presence, speed, axle count and additional relevant information while the car is travelling through the detection range. One reason the technology was ed was due to its bi-directional vehicle detection and classification ability. Duplicate lane equipment such as cameras had to be installed on the gantries to enable the lanes to function in reverse, whereas, only one Idris system was necessary.
In less than a year of full operations, the REL was exceeding the daily projections made for that first year by 25%. Traffic and revenue continue to outpace official projections as more people discover the 20-30 minutes of time savings in each direction. Through the combined efforts of consultants, technology providers and road operators the quality of life for the people using the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway is improving and on the move! |
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Published in Idris Winter 2007
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