Apparently, no AET for Maine Turnpike

[roadman]

http://tollroadsnews.com/news/maine-turnpike-staff-rejects-system-wide-aet-solution

[hotdogPi]

It's a good thing that it didn't get accepted. What would happen tho those who only had cash?

[jeffandnicole]

It's a good thing that it didn't get accepted. What would happen tho those who only had cash?

Same thing that happens at the several AET systems: he'd get a bill in the mail.

Existing systems are going to be very slow in converting. There's a few that have, and other than a few tin foil hat wearers that will never use such a system (all the while using a GPS enabled phone), they have worked out well.

[shadyjay]

Maybe then this means the turnpike will move forward with the York toll plaza replacement.  I believe it was put on hold to determine whether or not a switch to AET would occur.  Now that its not, maybe the replacement will move forward.

It would also be a good time to replace the northernmost mainline plaza.  I would think a good spot for it would be a new location between I-295 and Augusta, that way both the Exit 103 (I-295) plaza can be eliminated and Exit 102's ramp structure could be simplified.  In the process, two old bridges could be eliminated, including the one bridge used as a canopy for the Exit 102 plaza.  It would also simplify double-tolling for traffic to/from the Gardiner service plaza.

[Alps]

That's tollroadsnews. Wait until a real news source picks it up.

[US81]

It's a good thing that it didn't get accepted. What would happen tho those who only had cash?

Same thing that happens at the several AET systems: he'd get a bill in the mail.

Existing systems are going to be very slow in converting. There's a few that have, and other than a few tin foil hat wearers that will never use such a system (all the while using a GPS enabled phone), they have worked out well.

Um, no. Not all have worked out well. Cf. Texas.

[shadyjay]

That's tollroadsnews. Wait until a real news source picks it up.

How 'bout the official turnpike site....

http://www.maineturnpike.com/News/Recent-News/Notice-of-Public-Meeting-on-High-Speed-Tolling-Alt.aspx

In consequence, MTA staff will recommend to the Authority's board that the MTA not pursue implementation of AET on the Maine Turnpike but instead look at other options, including the implementation of ORT and the feasibility of adapting the existing facility at York.

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wcsh6.com/story/news/local/2014/05/02/officials-consider-new-plaza/8631223/

WCSH-TV (NBC) channel 6 of Portland had this piece about the ORT option today.

[Alps]

That's tollroadsnews. Wait until a real news source picks it up.

How 'bout the official turnpike site....

http://www.maineturnpike.com/News/Recent-News/Notice-of-Public-Meeting-on-High-Speed-Tolling-Alt.aspx

In consequence, MTA staff will recommend to the Authority's board that the MTA not pursue implementation of AET on the Maine Turnpike but instead look at other options, including the implementation of ORT and the feasibility of adapting the existing facility at York.

"Staff will recommend to the board" is a LOT DIFFERENT than "no AET".

[yakra]

It would also be a good time to replace the northernmost mainline plaza.  I would think a good spot for it would be a new location between I-295 and Augusta, that way both the Exit 103 (I-295) plaza can be eliminated and Exit 102's ramp structure could be simplified.  In the process, two old bridges could be eliminated, including the one bridge used as a canopy for the Exit 102 plaza.  It would also simplify double-tolling for traffic to/from the Gardiner service plaza.

Actually, it used to be here: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=44.30386,-69.80769&z=14&t=T
Don't know when it was moved, but I have a vague memory of passing thru it on a grade school trip in ~1990-1991ish.
I bet this plaza was removed with the conversion from a ticket system to interchange & barrier tolls (in the nineties; it was gone by the time I was driving up there regularly in `98.)
Why'd they choose to do it this way? I don't know... Maybe something to do with splitting the traffic volume up between two smaller plazas rather than handling it all at one large one?

[shadyjay]

I vaguely remember that plaza too, coming off what is now I-295, getting a ticket and heading north on I-95, and handing in the ticket / paying the toll at the Augusta plaza.  Still confused as to whether or not the New Gloucester and West Gardiner mainline plazas were built at that time. 

But if an Augusta plaza was built again, it would eliminate the West Gardiner mainline plaza, the Gardiner/I-295 plaza, and simplify the moves between all roads and the service plaza.  Motorists wouldn't have to worry about getting a voucher to avoid a double toll, and the turnpike could rid itself of two antiquated overpasses. 

[Beeper1]

The New Gloucester plaza was the last one to be built, in the early 90s when the northern part of the turnpike went off the ticket system.  I remember a period when it was ticket system from Your-New Gloucester, then just the barrier at West Gardiner.  This was around 1997-ish.