The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority (RITBA) is collaborating with Emovis on a new All Electronic Tolling (AET) solution across all lanes crossing the Claiborne Pell Bridge. 

The bridge connects the city of Newport on Aquidneck Island and the town of Jamestown on Conanicut Island. It has been tolled since its opening in 1969. In October 2021, the toll system transitioned to a temporary AET and accepts toll payment by way of electronic toll collection (ETC, specifically by E-ZPass transponder) only. As part of this arrangement, toll payment is no longer accepted by cash or credit card.  

Emovis will design, install and maintain the completely new AET system that will collect toll fees using electronic transponders (such as an E-ZPass transponder) or image-based transaction processing (such as license plate images). A gantry – a bridge-like overhead structure with a platform supporting equipment – will span both directions (six lanes in total).

The project will be fully launched in March 2024 and will include an initial five-year maintenance term running until 2029. 

“We appreciate Emovis’ innovative full redundant solution without SPOF (Single Points of Failure), that ensures our data is preserved,” said Lori C. Silveira, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. “This solution prevents critical failures at the roadside level and the resulting loss of revenue.”

Emovis has a long history of providing free-flow systems. For example, the company has:

  • Enabled the Dartford Bridge (London) to transition from a cash barrier and tag-based system to a pure video tolling gantry system.
  • Developed barrier and ORT tolling systems throughout Puerto Rico.

This AET project for the Claiborne Pell Bridge further demonstrates the strong partnership between RIBTA and Emovis. The two organizations are collaborating on a new customer back-office solution, announced on August 25th 2022. RITBA is also using Emovis’ Road Side and Operational Back Office solutions.

“RITBA and Emovis have many shared values, including a commitment to providing safe and efficient access across tolls and promoting economic development,” said Christian Barrientos, CEO of Abertis Mobility Services and Emovis. “We already have a deep understanding of RITBA’s business rules and workflows. With this knowledge, we bring several time and cost savings to the Authority.”

 

About the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority 

The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority operates and maintains the Newport Pell, Mount Hope, Jamestown Verrazzano and Sakonnet River Bridges along with Route 138 through Jamestown and ten smaller bridges associated with this highway and the approaches to the four major bridges. The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority was created in 1954 by the Rhode Island General Assembly as a body corporate and politic, with powers to construct, acquire, maintain, and operate bridge projects as defined by law.