New Castle, Del. — Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) officials announced that the installation of a new toll collection system at the Delaware Memorial Bridge Toll Plaza has begun and is expected to be completed in September 2016.
The construction and installation work is being performed by Xerox State & Local Solutions, Inc. of Germantown, Maryland, at a cost of $7.6 million. The Delaware Memorial Bridge is a major transportation link in the north-south corridor between Washington, D.C. and New York City.
“Our current toll system has served us well, but it has reached the end of its useful life,” said Gerry DiNicola Owens, chief information officer for the DRBA. “Like the existing system, all lanes will be capable of accepting cash or E-ZPass; however, the new system is more technologically advanced and will be more accurate with vehicle classifications.”
Owens said the transponder reader and antenna equipment will be replaced with new multi-protocol equipment. The new equipment will position the bridge for the evolution of national interoperability that has been mandated by Congress.
The upgraded toll collection system also will benefit customers by reducing billing issues resulting from misclassifications and faulty equipment, and by improving signage to allow drivers to more easily find the correct lane.
During the conversion process, multiple toll lanes will close in stages for the installation of the lane equipment. All lane mode signage will be exchanged and signs added to cover lanes one through 12. While DRBA engineers have designed the project to minimize traffic delays to the extent possible, motorists should expect to experience them from time-to-time.
The Delaware Memorial Bridge’s first toll system with electronic toll collection, installed by Lockheed Martin IMS, was launched on July 18, 2001. In 2015, more than 70% of all Delaware Memorial Bridge transactions were through electronic toll collection. Total system transactions averaged 17 million annually.
Xerox is a leading provider of transportation technology services worldwide, including tolling, parking, mass transit and photo enforcement services supporting governments in more than 30 countries.
The DRBA, a bi-state governmental agency created by Compact in 1962, owns and operates the Delaware Memorial Bridge, the Cape May- Lewes Ferry, and the Forts Ferry Crossing. All DRBA operating revenues are generated through the bridge, ferry and airport facilities.
