New toll system aims to speed up wait times and alleviate traffic congestion

Trucking safety is a major concern for states and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Traffic congestion is one issue that trucking officials worry about because it can increase the risk of accidents.

However, the Niagara Falls Bridge Commission recently launched an automatic payment system for tractor-trailers at the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, Buffalo News reports.

Officials told the news source the ExpressPass program was created to improve trucking safety and to alleviate traffic congestion on the bridge. A sensor at the booth will read the ExpressPass card and count the number of axles on the vehicles and deduct the suitable amount from an account maintained by drivers and their company.

The ExpressPass systems is expected to serve nearly 270 trucking companies and 15,000 individual trucks, which could reduce the wait time at tollbooths.

According to the FMCSA, more than 74,000 people were injured in a motor vehicle accident that involved a large truck in 2009, which is a decrease of nearly 16,000 from 2008.

By Anna Byrne

New toll system aims to speed up wait times and alleviate traffic congestion

Monday, March 21st, 2011