Open Road Tolling (ORT) coming to Maine Turnpike

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/232022/314/Maines-first-highway-speed-toll-lanes-almost-up-to-speed

In this case, they're referring to the New Gloucester toll plaza. Never once does their piece directly mention the nearby ORT set-up on I-95 in Hampton, NH.

[Beeper1]

Interesting, but do traffic volumes at New Gloucester really warrant this?  I've never experienced a delay at that plaza.   

The plaza in York is the one that really needs ORT, but I know the MTA wants to relocate that entire plaza to a safer location, so maybe it will be included in that project.

[KEVIN_224]

http://www.wcsh6.com/news/article/237586/314/High-speed-lanes-accelerate-toll-traffic

Said high speed toll lanes in New Gloucester are now opened.

[vdeane]

Just one lane each way?  Normally the system is that cash traffic has to "exit" the road to pay the toll, allowing the transponder traffic to pretend the toll barrier isn't even there.

[mtantillo]

Just one lane each way?  Normally the system is that cash traffic has to "exit" the road to pay the toll, allowing the transponder traffic to pretend the toll barrier isn't even there.

This is certainly what FHWA would like to encourage...this way when (not if, when) cash toll collection is eliminated, you can just shut off access to the cash plaza and be done with it. 

Though in Maine's case, they probably wanted to do it within the right-of-way and didn't have enough transponder traffic to justify more than one lane. 

[yakra]

Interesting, but do traffic volumes at New Gloucester really warrant this?  I've never experienced a delay at that plaza.   

The plaza in York is the one that really needs ORT, but I know the MTA wants to relocate that entire plaza to a safer location, so maybe it will be included in that project.

Nimbyism and local opposition are getting in the way of any real improvements down there.
My own wholly unfounded opinion is that doing this project up in New Gloucester where it's cheap and feasible and won't run into a lot of backlash will get something in place to demonstrate to the public how this can be a good, convenient idea.

So they're already open, huh? Holy cow, that was fast!

[shadyjay]

Now if they could just do something with the 'north end' toll plaza in West Gardiner.  Honestly, they should move it up back to just before the end of the turnpike in Augusta and eliminate the West Gardiner plaza, along with the I-295 plaza as well, as well as eliminating the old ramps and simplifying the Exit 102 ramps.  You'd eliminate two old bridges and two toll plazas at the same time, and make life easier for those wishing to exit the turnpike, visit the Gardiner service area, and reenter the turnpike.

[vdeane]

Except that then you'd need an entry ramp toll at exit 102, which would still keep the complications for southbound traffic at Gardiner.

[shadyjay]

Except that then you'd need an entry ramp toll at exit 102, which would still keep the complications for southbound traffic at Gardiner.

Not necessarily.  It is possible to travel between various exits on the north end of the turnpike without having to pay a toll.  So what would you lose $$$ wise by eliminating the toll for #102 SB motorists?  With my plan, NB motorists exiting at #102 would also not have a toll, since the mainline plaza to the south would be eliminated. 

With the mainline Gardiner plaza and the #103 plaza both gone, you can simplify with a single modern toll facility with high speed EZ-Pass lanes, eliminate two old bridges and two antiquated plazas, therefore with reduced staff.  Plus you'd also eliminate the "toll voucher" system for those wishing to go to the Gardiner service area and then re-enter. 

[vdeane]

I wonder why they set it up for free movements up north.  Also, did a couple of those interchanges get set up after the elimination of the ticket system?  They don't look like typical turnpike interchanges.

[shadyjay]

I wonder why they set it up for free movements up north.  Also, did a couple of those interchanges get set up after the elimination of the ticket system?  They don't look like typical turnpike interchanges.

At a point in the 1990s, the northern half went to a barrier only system, at about the same time the ticket system was abolished and TransPass (predecessor to EZ-Pass) came into existence.  The Sabattus interchange is a diamond and opened after the ticket system.  The Lewiston interchange is roughly the same configuration as it was with a ticket system, but with a southern connector road.  At one point, the desire was to convert the southern half to a barrier system with an interim barrier toll somewhere between Saco and Scarborough.  Not sure what happened to that proposal, but it would have eliminated the remaining ramp tolls.