Quote:
Originally Posted by someone123
Why does the bridge even have a toll plaza these days? The toll bridges around here either go by transponder or they take a picture of the vehicle license plates. Traffic flows normally across the bridge and there are no special tie-ups created on either end.
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HDBC has been studying all-electronic tolling (AET) since at least 2018.
AECOM was due to produce a report late in 2019. If that happened, it hasn't been released publicly as far as I know. The HDBC's 2019 annual report suggested a decision would be made in 2020 but the most recent annual report doesn't mention any timelines. A
story last April suggested COVID may slow the project down, noting the drop in crossings.
AET will require UARB approval. It will be an expensive project -- probably $25 million or more -- to remove the toll plazas, install the new equipment to read licence plates, and realign the roadways. But staying with the current system will probably be just as expensive, if not more, since the toll plazas are past their useful life and need to be rebuilt. Either way, it appears the recently announced toll increase will go to cover the cost.