Toll Services
Most trusted adviser in the toll industry
With a national breadth of tolling expertise and recognized industry leaders, HNTB serves as engineering consultant to more toll agencies than any other firm in the country. We provide specialized services and an in-depth understanding for every phase within a toll project’s life cycle, from planning and design through implementation, construction and operations.
HNTB’s Tolling Expertise By
the Numbers
50+ toll clients
500+ tolling professionals
30+ GEC/PMO Contracts
60+ toll system implementations
PLANNING
• Corridor Studies
• Project Feasibility Studies
• Funding/Financing Alternatives
• Traffic & Revenue Studies
• Master Plan Development
• New Agency Organization Planning
• Toll Collection System Planning
• Toll Operations Planning
• Cost Estimates
• Concepts of Operation
• Environmental Studies
• Procurement Strategies
• Public Involvement
• Permit Acquisition
• Grant/Loan Applications
DESIGN
• Civil & Structural Engineering
• Long-Span Bridges
• Tunnels
• Architecture Services
• Intelligent Transportation Systems
• Revenue Collection Systems Technology
• Traffic Management
• Right-of-Way Services
• Specialty Engineering
• Capital Cost Estimates
• Operations & Maintenance Cost Estimates
• 3-D Visualization & Graphics
• Website Development
• Context-Sensitive Solutions
• Aesthetics
CONSTRUCTION
• Construction Engineering
• Construction Inspection
• Contract Administration
• Claims Management
• Scheduling and Budgeting
• Quality Assurance/Quality Control
• Resident Engineer
• Public Information
MANAGEMENT
• General Engineering Consultant
• Program Management
• Design Manager Oversight
• Construction Management
• PPP Owner’s Engineer
• Staff Augmentation
OPERATIONS
• Business Operations
• Toll Collection Operations
• Accounting/Auditing/Reporting
• Technology Solutions
• Policies & Procedures
• Operations & Maintenance Engineering
• IT & IT Operations Support
• Safety Engineering
• Security Engineering
• Public Relations & Information
• Traffic Management
• Incident Management & Response
• Performance Metrics & Assessments
ASSET MANAGEMENT
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
• Bridge/Facilities Inspections
• Annual Condition Reporting
• Trust Indenture Services
• Budget Review & Certification
• Capital Program Planning & Execution
• Maintenance Planning & Execution
PRICED MANAGED LANES
• Policy Planning
• Systems/Network Planning
• Civil Design
• Toll Technology
• Toll Collection/Back Office
• Construction Oversight
• Ongoing Operations
Portland Area Widening Program
Client: Maine Turnpike Authority
As long-time partner and general engineering consultant to the Turnpike, HNTB played a key role during the planning, design and delivery of the Portland Area Widening and Safety Improvement Program. The most extensive capital program in the Maine Turnpike Authority’s history, the project reduces congestion, enhances mobility, improves safety and accommodates future growth in the Portland, Maine region.
The improvements include:
• 6.3 centerline miles of widening, drainage, median barrier and safety improvements
• 16 bridge redevelopments
• 4 interchange modifications
• 1 interchange reconstruction
• 1 toll plaza replacement
• 4 large culvert installations
• 1 new emergency vehicle ramp
Supporting the Turnpike every step of the way, HNTB has helped deliver infrastructure improvements expected to serve the growing Portland area for the next 20 years.
Fair Miles Oklahoma
Client: Oklahoma Department of Transportation
With the potential to help shape the future of the state’s transportation funding, the Fair Miles Oklahoma program assesses the feasibility of collecting per-mile road usage charge (RUC) fees as an alternative to the current system of taxing highway use through motor vehicle fuel taxes.
Supporting the legislatively mandated Oklahoma Road User Charge Task Force since its inception, HNTB initially assisted the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) with a grant application to secure federal funding for the program. Serving as program manager, HNTB worked to help develop and launch a six-month, pay-per-mile pilot.
The pilot recruited more than 445 volunteers who reported their more than 1.2 million miles driven. Using a monthly statement, these drivers could
compare what they would hypothetically pay per mile under a road usage charging system to what they are currently paying in traditional fuel taxes at the pump.
In addition to this pilot, HNTB also helped ODOT evaluate the potential impacts and opportunities of a conversion to road usage charging for the 38 tribal nations — who currently receive a percentage of the fuel tax in Oklahoma.
Upon completion of the program, HNTB helped ODOT prepare a comprehensive report for state lawmakers to describe the results and lessons learned for future policy decisions that are aimed to keep roads and bridges safe and reliable for all drivers in the state.
In this video, HNTB’s Toll Practice Consultant Kary Witt describes the unique considerations for the State of Oklahoma and the importance of understanding the needs and values of these programs’ most critical stakeholders: the communities.
Hampton Roads Toll Relief Program
Client: Virginia Department of Transportation
To help ensure everyone has access to affordable and equitable mobility options, HNTB played a key role in the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) and toll facility operator Elizabeth River Crossings’ (ERC) updated toll relief program.
The program was customized to the specific needs of the area’s underserved communities with the help of dedicated constituents. As part of the firm’s role, HNTB facilitated a diverse steering committee and conducted extensive market research to identify those residents most impacted by the tolls, where they lived and what they valued in terms of a discount.
Through collaboration with VDOT, ERC and these groups, HNTB developed an adjustable distribution model based on income levels, frequency of use, discount amount and geographic scope.
The expansion is expected to increase participation from an average of 2,150 residents per year to as many as 12,000 residents annually, giving localities more flexibility to meet the mobility needs of all residents. Based on ERC’s 3.5% annual increase, by 2036, the program will have provided $61.7 million in toll relief to thousands of customers.
SH 288 Managed Lanes
Client: Texas Department of Transportation
In a strategic move to ease the SH 288 congestion and foster the Greater Houston Area’s growth, the SH 288 Toll Lanes project enhances the connectivity between downtown Houston, the Texas Medical Center and the expanding residential neighborhoods in Harris and Brazoria Counties.
Serving as general engineering consultant for the program, HNTB supported the public-private partnership project with the delivery of four new managed toll lanes extending a 10.3-mile stretch of SH 288.
Additional project work centered on reconstruction of existing infrastructure. The firm provided General Engineering Consultant services for the reconstruction of the Interstate 610 Interchange, reconstruction of the general-purpose lanes and two cross street bridges spanning over the highway.
The project also includes the addition of 10 direct connector ramps that allow motorists to move easily and safely from one highway to another without needing to exit.
KTA Open Road Tolling Conversion
Client: Kansas Turnpike Authority
Interstate 70 and the I-335/I-35 corridor are two of the most heavily traveled routes within Kansas. As part of a 10-year modernization program, the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) has set a primary objective to keep the traffic on these roadways flowing as safely and efficiently as possible.
HNTB helped KTA develop a plan for modernizing road systems that hinged on removing physical toll barriers on vital interstate arteries. HNTB’s national
toll technology and toll plaza design experts helped KTA create a safe design that separated cash lanes from open road tolling lanes while utilizing as much existing infrastructure as possible. At three of the state’s highest revenue-generating toll plazas, HNTB’s design, construction sequencing and maintenance of traffic plans safely allowed the continued operation of all three terminals during the transition to open road tolling.
HNTB’s partnership with KTA continues as the firm provides services for conversion to a cashless tolling system. HNTB is delivering infrastructure improvements, including the design of 18 additional mainline toll zone points.
Interstate 95 Express Lanes
Client: Virginia Department of Transportation
The I-95 Express Lanes project utilizes innovative and complex intelligent transportation system design solutions to improve reliability of travel times and better accommodate rush-hour commuters.
Serving as the lead designer for the Virginia Department of Transportation, HNTB designed toll signs, dynamic messaging boards and communication and power systems for a 29-mile segment of northern Virginia’s I-95 Express Lanes project, which includes reversible high-occupancy tolling lanes.
The reversible price-managed lanes use a series of gates to open and close lanes depending on the direction of traffic. To ensure the safety of commuters, HNTB designed the gates, their relevant dynamic messaging signs and two types of closedcircuit televisions that use automated cameras to ensure that all vehicles have exited before the lanes are reversed. The cameras also assist the concessionaire by sensing when there is a stopped vehicle, an accident or debris in the roadway.
The project included installation of:
• 700 miles of cable
• 1,000 tolling and traffic management devices
• 130 new sign structures
• 5 tolling sites
• 30 toll gantries
All-Electronic Tolling Conversion
Client: Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise
As general engineering consultant to Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise (FTE), HNTB played an integral role in the successful conversion of 312 miles mainline to all-electronic toll collection, helping FTE to realize a long-held vision to increase safety and mobility.
The project stands as the largest, most complex FTE conversion project to date, with the ticket system stretching from milepost 88 to milepost 236.
The conversion involved:
• Changing FTE’s toll collection method, removing cash
• Demolishing two mainline toll plazas and plazas from 12 interchange ramps
• Erecting 12 free-flow, mainline all-electric toll gantries
• Introducing a new tolling scheme
As the project was set within one of the country’s most heavily traveled highway systems, FTE implemented the conversion to all-electric tolling in phases, with the largest, most complex phase completed overnight. For this phase, HNTB helped convert 155 miles and 13 interchanges in five hours while under live traffic conditions.
Interstate 10 Express Lanes
Client: San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and California Department of Transportation
With the county’s population expected to grow by half a million over the next 25 years, the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority (SBCTA) and California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) are adding two express lanes to the I-10 corridor in each direction from the Los Angeles County Line to Interstate 15.
Working alongside the SBCTA, HNTB is providing project and construction management services for the design and construction of 10 miles of express lanes.
The managed lane project includes:
• 11 miles of highway widening
• 8 bridge widenings
• 8 bridge replacements
• 5 bridge improvements
• Partial pavement rehabilitation HNTB services include preliminary design of some project elements, right-of-way engineering, preparation of design build and toll service provider procurements, toll planning documents and toll operations requirements.
The firm is also assisting SBCTA, in coordination with Caltrans, with the planning, procurement, design, construction, installation, testing, operation, maintenance and general oversight of the I-10 Express Lanes project.
Hooksett Toll Plaza
Client: New Hampshire Department of Transportation
HNTB provided final design and construction support services to widen and retrofit the New Hampshire Department of Transportation’s Hooksett Toll Plaza, enabling open road tolling at this key toll plaza. Hooksett processes more than 25 million vehicles a year and up to 80,000 vehicles a day during summer months.
The project converted six conventional toll lanes to four open road tolling lanes (two northbound and two southbound). The toll lanes are separated by concrete barriers from conventional toll lanes on each side of the plaza.
Move Illinois
Client: Illinois Tollway
As an extension of staff, HNTB’s Program
Management Office served the Illinois Tollway and helped to deliver their 16-year, $15 billion capital program known as Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future. Designed to improve mobility and reduce congestion and pollution, the program will create or sustain more than 165,200 jobs while linking several local economies when complete.
Within the role, HNTB managed the program’s budget and complex schedule while helping identify risks, communicate progress and manage the delivery of the program. The firm helped the agency increase the program twice to advance new investments and improvements to the roadway.
While enhancing the Illinois Tollway’s facilities, the program is delivering capital improvement projects on time and within budget while delivering on the promise of inclusion and diversity with more than 30% of the budget allocated for Historically Underutilized Businesses, veteran and small businesses.
Some of the capital improvement projects include:
• Jane Addams Memorial Tollway Rebuild and Widening project
• The Illinois Route 390 Tollway and the I-490 Tollway project
• Central Tri-State Tollway Reconstruction project
• The I-294/I57 Interchange project
State Route 836 Toll Plaza
Client: Greater Miami Expressway Agency
HNTB reconstructed and completed tollway improvements for a 2-mile section of State Route 836, the major east-west connector in MiamiDade County, Florida. The project included two administration buildings, two toll plazas, two gantries for electronic toll collection and the existing expressway facility’s total reconstruction.
These improvements were the initial steps to implementing open-road tolling on the entire Miami-Dade County’s expressway system. The design build project was completed on an expedited two-year timeline.
HNTB currently serves as the general engineering consultant to the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, which governs the expressway system within the geographical boundaries of Miami-Dade County and a portion of northeast Monroe County.
Hardy Toll Road
Client: Harris County Toll Road Authority
HNTB worked with the Harris County Toll Road Authority (HCTRA) in the first major overhaul of the Hardy Toll Road since it opened 27 years ago. The makeover, a total of nine projects along the 21-mile tollway, adds capacity to handle growth in northern Harris County. Included are connector ramps at the Grand Parkway and a third lane in each direction between the Grand Parkway and Farm-to-Market Road 1960.
HNTB engineered 10 of the bridges, which required widening to accommodate the additional lane. The firm also provided specialty engineering services to salvage and increase the service life of the existing bridge structures, which helped HCTRA avoid significant reconstruction, traffic impacts and loss of revenue.
HNTB also prepared the feasibility study and developed the plan to convert the cash system to allelectronic tolling.
Traffic Management Center
Client: New Jersey Turnpike Authority
Providing full design, construction and intelligent transportation systems integration services for the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, HNTB played a significant role in the delivery of the 28,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art, multiagency traffic management center. With a 57-station operations floor, including an 18-by-50-foot DLP® video wall that has real-time displays of highways from 420 traffic cameras within New Jersey, staff can better ensure the safety and efficiency of the state’s traffic.
Sustainable design strategies also play a critical part in the building’s design. Photovoltaic solar panels and an intelligent building management system control all aspects of the building’s mechanical and electrical system.
With features designed to anticipate client needs and future technological advancements, the traffic management center is a pure digital environment that allows for virtualization, scalability and future operational upgrades without costly infrastructure changes.
Interstate 15 Price Managed Lanes
Client: San Diego Association of Government
HNTB was responsible for final civil and structural design services for the world’s first fully dynamic variable pricing on 20 miles of I-15. The San Diego Association of Governments’ (SANDAG) project constructed the express lanes in the median, widened the current two-lane facility to four lanes and added a moveable barrier.
HNTB developed initial planning studies, performance requirements and a unique algorithm that updates the price at various entry points every three to six minutes based on traffic levels.
During implementation, HNTB provided oversight for the toll system design, approved commissioning of the system and reviewed and approved testing.
Three months after the express lanes opened, average daily use increased by nearly 2,500 vehicles. SANDAG plans to build a regional network of 100 miles of toll facilities and express lanes.
Northwest Corridor Express Lanes
Client: Georgia Department of Transportation
The Northwest Corridor Express Lanes span approximately 30 miles between Interstate 75 and 575. This predominantly elevated, barrier-separated system efficiently increases capacity and is designed to accommodate 450,000 vehicles a day.
As Program Management Consultant, HNTB worked closely with the Georgia Department of Transportation to provide project management, procurement support, environmental oversight, community engagement and post-let management services. The innovative model utilized advanced technologies such as reversible managed lanes, and the project was a first in the state, demonstrating its novelty in the industry.
A robust education and outreach program was implemented prior to tolling commencement to facilitate a smooth transition for the state’s drivers. This effort was critical in reducing congestion in generalpurpose lanes, which ultimately saved commuters approximately 20 minutes during peak travel periods along the corridor.
Fully operational, this project sets a benchmark for innovation in transportation infrastructure. It continues to bolster the region’s economic development, mobility, and overall quality of life.
North Texas Tollway Authority Infrastructure Partnership
Client: North Texas Tollway Authority
Since 1953, HNTB has supported the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) and its predecessor, the Texas Turnpike Authority, with the successful delivery of toll facilities across north Texas as both general engineering consultant and program management consultant. Throughout this partnership, HNTB has assisted NTTA in delivering over 1,000 lane-miles.
Serving as program management consultant (PMC) since the establishment of NTTA’s Project Delivery Department in 2007, HNTB has provided oversight of technical functions and corridors from project inception to completion. As an extension of staff, HNTB provides capital projects programming, contract administration, environmental document review and oversight, design reviews, program controls, community outreach, landscape design and implementation oversight, oversight of right-ofway acquisition and utility relocation.
Through other contracts with NTTA, HNTB has also provided public involvement and project communications, construction management oversight, trust agreement services, annual inspections, engineering reports, IT lane audits, pursuable transaction services, back office system replacement and toll system support. Under the PMC contracts, HNTB has supported NTTA on numerous corridor projects including:
• Dallas North Tollway
• President George Bush Turnpike
• Sam Rayburn Tollway
• Lewisville Lake Toll Bridge
• Chisholm Trail Parkway
• Addison Airport Toll Tunnel
• Mountain Creek Lake Bridge
West Virginia Travel Plaza
Client: West Virginia Parkways Authority
As part of the West Virginia Parkways Authority (WVPA) goal to design and build the first postpandemic toll road service areas in the country, HNTB developed construction documents for the three prototype travel plaza facilities at the Beckley, Bluestone and Morton sites. The HNTB team designed facilities that combine exceptional function and adaptability with an engaging design that is flexible enough to meet the ever-changing needs of the traveling public.
In homage to 1950s-era “glass house” design, the concept incorporates large amounts of curtainwall to capture West Virginia’s panoramic views. The
structure is left exposed with high ceilings to create a lofty, airy space that further enhances the views of the outdoors. On the exterior, massing is used to create visual interest and high canopies echo the interior volume of the spaces. Natural materials are incorporated that integrate the structures into their settings.
Inspired by the rugged beauty of West Virginia, these facilities incorporate materials and spaces designed to create a sense of calm and peace. Coupled with its outstanding exterior design, the facilities evoke a mountain resort atmosphere. Materials indigenous to the area are incorporated in the interior, including recycled or reclaimed wood as well as a wide selection of wood and leather furniture.
Large pavilion spaces will house retail, West Virginian crafts, tourist information and food services. The sites are designed so only light vehicles park near the building. Fuel dispensers sheltered by canopies are included adjacent to the plaza buildings for light vehicles, and truck fueling, also protected by canopies, will be provided adjacent to the truck parking. Truck and light vehicle traffic will be kept separate in each of the three travel plaza locations to prevent conflicts.
Interstate 24 Choice Lanes Southeast
Client: Tennessee Department of Transportation
The proposed I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes project will construct new, optional choice lanes on I-24 between Nashville and Murfreesboro. HNTB is serving as TDOT’s General Engineering Consultant. The project seeks to address travel time reliability and regional connectivity issues along approximately 24 miles of I-24 by providing passenger vehicles and transit riders with an effective transportation alternative. Choice lanes provide another option for motorists to bypass congestion, allowing motorists to maintain consistent travel times.
North Carolina Complete 540
Client: North Carolina Turnpike Authority
The Complete 540 is the largest investment in highway infrastructure in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s history. The Triangle region specifically — Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill — is growing significantly in populous, and is met with the need for increased roadway capacity.
The project will complete the outer I-540 loop around the greater Raleigh area, extending the Triangle Expressway from Apex to Knightdale. It will provide an all-electronic toll facility, meaning there is no stopping and no toll booths, intended to improve the regional network mobility and reduce traffic congestion in the greater Raleigh area.
The project includes widening shoulders and lighting along the entire project corridor as well as wrong-way vehicle detection technology. At interchanges and bridge crossings, the project is incorporating multimodal transportation options such as sidewalks, shared and separate bike lanes, current and future greenways, pedestrian culverts and multiuse paths.
