Turnpike 43 High-Speed EZ-Pass Lanes to Close Until January 2011

PITTSBURGH, PA (10/26/2010)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced today that it has agreed to permit the E-ZPass Group to use the Express E-ZPass lanes on Turnpike 43 to test the next generation of electronic toll collection equipment and technology. This will require closing the Express E-ZPass lanes located between Exit 54 and Exit 48 on October 27th. The southbound lanes will shut down first at 9:00 am, followed by the northbound lanes at noon. The closure is expected to be in effect until sometime in January of 2011.

Protective Services Inc. has been contracted to establish a Maintenance, Protection and Traffic (MTA) pattern that along with portable message boards will direct Express Lane traffic over to the conventional E-ZPass lanes on the right side of the Expressway. None of the on or off ramps between exits 54 and 48 will be effected.

The IBI Group has been contracted by E-ZPass Group to test the equipment and technology submitted by a number of venders competing to provide equipment and services to the E-ZPass Group consortium.

The E-ZPass Group consortium consists of 24 transportation agencies (including the PTC) in 14 states that offer E-ZPass and related services.

The current members of the E-ZPass Group include: Burlington County Bridges Commission, Chicago Skyways Concession Company, Delaware Department of Transportation, Delaware River and Bay Authority, Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission, Delaware River Port Authority, Illinois State Toll Highway Authority, Indiana Toll Road Concession Company, LLC, Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Maryland Transportation Authority, Maine Turnpike Authority, Metropolitan Transportation Authority Bridges and Tunnels, New Hampshire Department of Transportation, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, New York State Bridges Authority, New York State Thruway Authority, Ohio Turnpike Commission, The Peace Bridge Authority, Port Authority of New York & New Jersey, The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority, South Jersey Transportation Authority, Virginia Department of Transportation and the West Virginia Parkway Authority.

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