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IBTTA official preview 2026

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OFFICIAL PREVIEW 94TH ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITION NOVEMBER 12–15, 2026: ARLINGTON, TX

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Texas shows how local demands drive transportation innovation, and how those lessons can travel, IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Mark Chung explains.

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nnovation in transportation rarely begins with technology alone. It begins with a problem that must be solved. A region grows faster than its infrastructure. Customers expect simpler service. An agency must expand capacity while maintaining the system on which people already depend. The most meaningful innovations emerge from real-world demands. They are tested in practice, refined through experience and strengthened when organisations share what they have learned. That makes Texas an especially appropriate home for IBTTA’s 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition.

A state built to move Texas brings together a remarkable range of tolling models, operators and operating environments. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDoT) operates toll roads and managed lanes across Austin, Houston and Dallas–Fort Worth, while regional and county authorities operate additional

networks across those major metropolitan areas and in growing markets throughout the state, including northeast Texas. Texas’ tolling story is not centred on one organisation or operating model. That is precisely what makes it valuable. From 2024 to 2025, Texas added more than 391,000 residents, the largest numeric population gain of any state in the country. State, regional and county entities are using toll roads, managed lanes, electronic payments and partnerships as part of a diverse approach to meeting the transportation needs of a rapidly-growing state. Together, these systems expand regional connections, give drivers options in congested corridors, and allow customers to move across networks using interoperable tags.

North Texas: Innovation at the scale of growth Our Annual Meeting host, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA), offers a compelling view of that work in practice.

IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Mark Chung.

Images: NTTA

THE HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE: WHERE BIG IDEAS HIT THE ROAD

NTTA operates five toll roads, two bridges and one tunnel across the Dallas–Fort Worth region, maintaining reliable service today while preparing for continued growth. That requires innovation across the customer journey. NTTA’s Safety Operations Center works around the clock, giving trained dispatchers access to nearly 2000 cameras from more than 20 video screens. When the automated incident-detection system identifies a crash, stranded vehicle or hazard, dispatchers can alert first responders, deploy roadside safety service crews for assistance, and warn approaching drivers. NTTA has also pioneered tools to address wrong-way driving. Thermal imaging cameras can detect a vehicle moving in the wrong direction, activate warnings and immediately alert the Safety Operations Center, which can take actions such as sending warning notifications to tollway drivers’ cell phones, directly into certain Stellantis vehicles, and updating dynamic

Connected toll road networks help drivers travel more seamlessly across regions.

Editor Adam Hill adam.hill@primeglobalpublishing.com

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CEO Christine Clancy

Writer James Foster Designer Michelle Weston

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No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher. Contributors are encouraged to express their personal and professional opinions in this publication, and accordingly views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of Prime Global Publishing Ltd. From time to time statements and claims are made by the manufacturers and their representatives in respect of their products and services. Whilst reasonable steps are taken to check their accuracy at the time of going to press, the publisher cannot be held liable for their validity and accuracy.

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94TH ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITION

Technology and smarter operations are shaping the future of toll road networks.

message signs. Pavement sensors provide another layer of automated detection. The technology is valuable because it is embedded in an operational system capable of responding quickly. Customer innovation extends beyond the roadway. The more than 8.5 million TollTags in operation work seamlessly outside Texas in Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Pennsylvania, and can pay for parking at Dallas–Fort Worth International Airport, Dallas Love Field Airport and the recently-opened Universal Kids Resort. The bilingual TollMate app supports account management, trip calculations and roadside assistance. Different prepaid options, thousands of payment partners and TollPerks provide greater access, flexibility and value. Each example responds to a tangible need: safer travel, faster assistance, simpler payments or better service. Together, they show that innovation is not a standalone product, but a series of connected decisions grounded in the people and communities an organisation serves.

Lessons that travel The value of shared learning extends beyond Texas. Each stop on IBTTA’s 2027 calendar will add another perspective. Fort Myers will explore how transportation organisations communicate, lead, manage risk and build the workforce needed for what comes next. Minneapolis will bring the industry together around 4

Innovation in tolling extends beyond the road to safety, payments and customer experience.

the technologies reshaping transportation systems and operations. Charlotte will frame conversations about finance and road-use charging alongside North Carolina’s in-vehicle toll payment pilot. As North Carolina Turnpike Authority CEO and Executive Director James ‘J.J.’ Eden has said, “We’ve been talking about in-car payment for years. Now is the time”. The goal: make paying a toll as seamless as driving through it. We will then return to Texas, where the Harris County Toll Road Authority will host IBTTA’s Maintenance, Engineering and Roadway Operations Workshop in Houston. There, a fast-growing and complex transportation environment will frame conversations about infrastructure

INSIDE TOLLING | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

performance, roadway operations, safety and resilience. Chicago will demonstrate how an established network is using active traffic management and connected-vehicle technology to modernise operations. Bangkok will widen the lens to the rapidlyevolving mobility systems and digital infrastructure shaping Asia. Each place has its own home field advantage: challenges that demand action, experience earned through service and ideas with value beyond their point of origin. IBTTA’s role is to help those lessons travel, so innovations born from local needs can improve transportation far beyond their home field. ■ Published by


94TH ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITION

DRIVING WHAT’S NEXT: READY TO ACHIEVE

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strategic plan only matters when people see themselves in it – and step forward to bring it to life. That is what IBTTA members did in 2026. We entered the year with a new fiveyear Strategic Plan developed under the leadership of 2025 IBTTA President James Hofmann. Its six domains gave us a shared vision for where IBTTA is going. My presidential theme, ‘Driving What’s Next: Investment. Impact. Influence’, became a way to help move that vision forward, investing in our people, expanding the partnerships that strengthen our impact and using our collective influence to advance the industry.

Investment, impact, influence. Investment begins with infrastructure but extends far beyond it. Along with the roads, bridges and tunnels connecting our communities, we must invest in the people who plan, build, operate and improve them.

This year, we launched a pilot mentorship program connecting emerging professionals with industry leaders. We also introduced the Mary Jane O’Meara Leadership Webinar Series, honouring a trailblazer who opened doors while creating a platform for members to learn from accomplished leaders and envision their own paths forward. This work is personal to me. Clearer pathways into transportation careers and leadership will help us attract the talent and perspectives our future demands. We also signed memoranda of understanding with the 5G Automotive Association, PIARC–World Road Association, WTS International and others, bringing together broader expertise, networks and perspectives to advance important challenges and opportunities across technology, infrastructure, workforce and mobility.

Images: Sadie Libo

A member-driven strategy builds momentum for the year ahead, 2026 IBTTA President Joi Taylor Dean writes.

2026 IBTTA President Joi Taylor Dean.

Through our Be Safe Together road safety campaign, we continued strengthening our industry’s role in saving lives. Our “Put your mind in drive” message and growing partnership with EndDD.org (End Distracted Driving) are giving younger generations tools and awareness to avoid distraction behind the wheel. For me, that is investment, impact and influence in action, and it is what it looks

Industry leaders are working together to strengthen networks and improve outcomes for communities.

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OFFICIAL PREVIEW | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

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OFFICIAL PREVIEW

The MoU with PIARC was one of several agreements signed by IBTTA.

like to begin turning our five-year strategy into meaningful work for members.

2027, we are ready to build on that progress and achieve more together.

Turning strategy into action That momentum has carried across the broader Strategic Plan. More than 425 IBTTA members are now contributing in strategic work domains, committees and councils. They are investing their expertise, building connections across disciplines and putting our collective influence behind challenges no organisation can solve alone. That response has been one of the most meaningful parts of my presidential year, and a powerful example of what it means to drive what’s next together. During this first year, we established the leadership and structure needed to sustain the plan across its six domains: Advocacy; Customer Experience; Community and Membership; Workforce Development; Knowledge and Innovation; and Organisational Excellence. The work underway will strengthen IBTTA’s policy voice, help members respond to changing customer expectations, sharpen membership value, expand our international reach, build pathways into transportation careers, turn technology and knowledge into practical resources, and modernise the association. With this foundation in place, we are ready to translate momentum into measurable outcomes for members. In 2026, we began turning a five-year vision into action through investment, impact and influence. As we look toward

Achieve: The next chapter As my presidential year closes, I feel tremendous pride in what we have set in motion, and confidence in the leader who will carry it forward. Ferzan Ahmed has led the Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission, operator of one of the nation’s longest continuous toll roads, since 2019. From the heartland of the US to his roots in Pakistan, Ferzan brings deep operating experience and a global perspective to the opportunities and challenges ahead. His 2027 theme, ‘Achieve’, is a fitting next step. We have built the framework and brought members into the work. That focus on execution is taking shape, including Ferzan’s emphasis on expanding technical training and giving members more opportunities to build the skills our industry increasingly demands. He has a strong partner in IBTTA Executive Director and CEO Mark Chung, whose fresh perspective, humility and collaborative approach have brought new energy and focus to the organisation. Our 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition in Arlington brings our leadership transition and global community together. As we approach our centennial, we can honour the legacy that brought us here while building an association ready to lead for generations to come. We spent 2026 driving what is next. Now, together, we are ready to achieve. ■

www.ibtta.org/events/94th-annual-meeting-exhibition

“Achievement is never an individual act. It grows from relationships, shared purpose and the willingness to help one another succeed. We have done the planning and set ambitious priorities. Now it is time to move decisively into action and ensure every member sees a place for themselves in what we achieve together.” IBTTA First Vice President Ferzan Ahmed

www.ibtta.org/events/94th-annual-meeting-exhibition | OFFICIAL PREVIEW

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OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Bangkok will host IBTTA’s 2027 Global Tolling Summit.

THE WORLD IS MOVING FAST

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ransportation transformation is not following a single route. Governments and operators across the world are modernising road networks in response to different pressures: rapid urban growth, ageing infrastructure, constrained public funding, climate risk, changing customer expectations, and technologies advancing faster than traditional planning cycles. The solutions are equally varied. Truck road-user charging schemes are being deployed throughout Europe, particularly in Central Europe, while others with established toll concession frameworks face the challenge of renewing ageing assets and expiring contracts. Many of these networks require substantial investment to modernise infrastructure, enhance resilience, and ensure proper maintenance and operation. At a time of growing investment needs and limited public resources, well-designed concession-based models can play a key role in mobilising private investment, accelerating infrastructure renewal, and ensuring the long-term reliability of transport networks. In Asia and the Pacific, extraordinary urban growth is accelerating investment in digital infrastructure, automated operations, and integrated mobility. India is rolling out barrier-free tolling on national highways that pairs FASTag with automatic plate recognition. In New Zealand, the Government Policy Statement 2024 supports tolling as an additional funding source for new roads, alongside consideration of public–private partnerships (PPPs), concessions and

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other delivery models. Transportation systems across the region are being built to scale quickly and connect more seamlessly with transit, freight, and digital payment networks. That makes Bangkok a fitting setting for IBTTA’s 2027 Global Tolling Summit, where members will have the opportunity to experience firsthand how one of the world’s fastest-changing mobility regions is approaching growth, technology, and infrastructure investment. Concession models and PPPs continue to support major infrastructure development across Latin America. In August, Argentina awarded eight corridors covering more than 3900km to private operators under 20-year, fully privately-funded toll concessions. The region also provides important lessons in balancing investment, affordability, customer trust and long-term service commitments. Brazil offers another example of the scale of long-term road concession development. Over the past 28 years, the country’s road concessions sector has grown from 9200km of concessioned roads in 1998 to more than 30,000km in 2024, more than tripling in size, with more than two billion vehicles travelling through the toll facilities of its concessions that year. The market is projected to more than double again over the next five years, with an additional 30,000km expected to enter the concession pipeline. Across North America, major infrastructure and trade corridors are creating new demands for crossborder coordination, interoperability and investment.

OFFICIAL PREVIEW | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

The new Gordie Howe International Bridge, which spans the US–Canada border between Detroit and Windsor, illustrates how mobility depends on systems and partnerships that work across jurisdictions. The technologies and policies may differ, but the underlying questions are remarkably similar: How do we fund the infrastructure we need for the future? How do we make complex systems feel simple to customers? How can innovation improve safety and performance? How do we ensure transportation investment creates lasting value for communities? For IBTTA International Vice President María Moreno, the value of global exchange is in understanding how different markets approach common challenges and recognising which lessons may travel. “No single market has all the answers,” Moreno said. “As countries explore new approaches to funding and managing transportation networks, the opportunity is to learn from one another and apply those lessons in ways that reflect local needs and priorities. That is how we build safer, more resilient, and more efficient mobility systems for the future.” That exchange comes to Arlington on Sunday, November 15 from 8:30–9:30am during the general session, ‘Around the World: Global Tolling in Motion’. Through rapid-fire updates from countries and regions across the globe, speakers will share the projects, technologies, and approaches transforming mobility in their markets. The world is moving fast. This session is a chance to see where it is heading and what our industry can learn along the way. ■ Published by

Image: Narong Rammanee/Dreamstime.com

94TH ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITION


YOUR 2027 ROADMAP STARTS HERE COMMUNICATIONS, HR & LEGAL WORKSHOP FORT MYERS, FL | MAR 14-16

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NEAPOL I IN M

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SIX DESTINATIONS. ONE SHARED DRIVE TO ACHIEVE.

ARLOTTE CH

TECHNOLOGY SUMMIT MINNEAPOLIS, MN | APR 24-27 FINANCE, RUC & MANAGED LANES SUMMIT CHARLOTTE, NC | JUN 13-15 MAINTENANCE, ENGINEERING & ROADWAY OPERATIONS WORKSHOP HOUSTON, TX | JUL 18-20

USTON HO

ICAGO CH

95TH ANNUAL MEETING & EXHIBITION CHICAGO, IL | SEPT 9-12 GLOBAL TOLLING SUMMIT BANGKOK, THAILAND | NOV 7-9

MAP YOUR YEAR. #AchieveIBTTA

NGKOK BA


OFFICIAL PREVIEW Some drivers might not even realise they are on a toll road.

Image: mailcaroline/stock.adobe.com

EMOVIS PROVIDES ASSURANCE AT SCALE

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olled roads offer quicker commutes or less congested journeys, so drivers pay to use them. It’s a simple enough proposition; however, it doesn’t always work out like that: an estimated $2.25 billion goes uncollected every year in the US – or about 10% of total tolling revenue. That’s why Emovis – part of the Abertis Group, which owns and operates toll roads around the world – sets so much store by what it calls ‘revenue assurance’. “Our number-one mission when we put systems in and when we operate these systems is to protect the revenue,” Emovis Chief Sales Officer North America Marc Deflin said. “We put revenue assurance front and centre with our public and private agency and concession customers. It’s just in our DNA.” Deflin believes the vast majority of drivers want to pay but, for a variety of reasons, some don’t – they might not even realise they are on a toll road, for example – and they need help to do so. Importantly, they are not treated as customers rather than violators . “We just need to work a little harder to get them to pay the bill,” Deflin said. “But we need to treat them with respect, and when they understand what you’re trying to do and the benefits that you’re offering, they’re like: ‘Okay, yeah I need to pay for this’.”

Detection to collection From detection to collection, things must be as seamless as possible for customers to pay, whether it’s through mobile apps or digital payments, or even cash. “It’s also about equity, right?” Deflin said. “If you continue to allow some folks to always get away with it, so to speak, you’re not really doing your job, and that’s not fair to the others that pay.

“It’s our duty to make sure that it’s a fair playing field for everybody.” In short, everyone must trust the system. Emovis is used to working at scale, acting as back office for multiple toll facilities and numerous operators. “We become the voice and the face of those agencies, so it’s really up to us to make sure the accounts have integrity to them,” Deflin said. “It’s very important that we have the trust, not just of the driving public but also the of the participating agencies in that region.” Agencies might have different tolling schemes or rate tables, others may have express lanes which are time-of-day driven, or run on dynamic, real-time pricing. Emovis needs to be across it all. “We need to understand all those business rules of the different agencies so we can clearly communicate them,” Deflin said. “And whether people want to communicate by text or chatbot, if they’d rather work through the IVR [interactive voice response] system, or if they want to talk to a human being, we need omnichannel engagement. We have to make sure we’re serving the public on their terms.” Perhaps the most complex element of deploying tolling solutions at scale is collaboration with different agencies. “You don’t want five or six transponders on your windshield or your dashboard when you’re driving from New York to New Jersey to Massachusetts to Delaware – you want one,” Deflin said. “There’s a lot of really good work done to create these interoperability hubs and make sure that those transactions are passed along with integrity in a timely, auditable fashion. So there’s trust built into the system, and that’s very important to us.” ■

Image: Emovis

Emovis Chief Sales Officer North America Marc Deflin explains why trust is key.

“It’s our duty to make sure that it’s a fair playing field for everybody.” Emovis Chief Sales Officer North America Marc Deflin

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Enterprise Solutions for Toll Intelligence Confidence in every transaction. Clarity in every journey.

Trip building and pricing Performance monitoring Vendor-agnostic integration Leakage reduction Automatic and manual image review

www.q-free.com


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BUILDING WHAT’S NEXT FOR TENNESSEE Image: TDoT

Tennessee Department of Transportation Commissioner Will Reid explains why the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Program combines new tools with a clear commitment to delivery.

‘Building what’s next requires more than vision. It requires results’: Will Reid.

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ess than four years ago, Tennessee had no authority to pursue transportation public–private partnerships. Today, the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Program delivers a concession value of $24.8 billion on a $9.2 billion transportation investment, representing the largest transportation P3 concession payment in US history. That transformation did not happen by accident. Before passage of the Transportation Modernization Act (TMA) in March 2023, Tennessee’s transportation delivery options were more limited, even as the state experienced historic population and economic growth. For much of the past decade, the Tennessee Department of Transportation’s (TDoT) annual transportation programme remained around $1.3 billion, leaving transportation investment increasingly challenged to keep pace with Tennessee’s rapid growth and rising infrastructure demands. Governor Bill Lee and the Tennessee General Assembly recognised that challenge and responded with meaningful investments in transportation infrastructure. Just as importantly, they expanded the tools available to deliver it.

The TMA authorised public–private partnerships, broadened alternative delivery authority and created new opportunities to leverage privatesector expertise and investment, while maintaining public ownership and accountability. The I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Program is an example of what can happen when a growing state combines new tools with a clear commitment to delivery. Across the country, conversations about infrastructure often centre on funding, financing and regulatory reform. Those issues matter, but the challenge is increasingly not a lack of private capital, industry expertise or public demand for investment. The challenge is delivery. How do public agencies move major projects from concept to construction? How do they manage risk, attract competition and create market confidence while maintaining accountability to taxpayers and system users? Those were the questions Tennessee set out to answer. Just over three years after enactment of the TMA, the Tennessee Transportation Modernization Board selected DriveTN as TDoT’s preferred partner for the I-24 Southeast Choice Lanes Program. The

proposal would add capacity along one of Tennessee’s most heavily-travelled corridors while creating the opportunity for annual concession payments throughout a 50-year agreement. More importantly, it demonstrates that a state can move rapidly from legislative authority to execution when policy, leadership and organisational alignment come together around a common objective. Tennessee’s experience reinforces an important lesson: successful alternative delivery is not about transferring responsibility; it is about creating value. Public ownership, strong competition and clear accountability helped attract world-class teams and produce a proposal with the potential to generate long-term transportation value for our state. The significance reaches beyond the I-24 corridor itself. Once finalised, annual concession payments would provide a new source of funding for future transportation investments across Tennessee, extending the benefits of the programme well beyond the corridor it serves. Yet no single project can meet Tennessee’s long-term transportation needs. Keeping pace with continued population and economic growth will require sustained investment, innovative delivery and a longterm funding strategy. Important work remains on I-24. Selection is not financial close. As TDoT works alongside our federal and private-sector partners to finalise the agreement, secure financing and complete required reviews, our responsibility remains unchanged: ensure every aspect of the transaction serves Tennessee’s long-term interests. The broader lesson is straightforward. Growing states cannot rely solely on yesterday’s tools to solve tomorrow’s challenges. Meeting the transportation demands of a growing economy requires innovation, partnership and a willingness to pursue new approaches when they create value for the public. Tennessee’s growth is not slowing down. Neither is the need for infrastructure that supports economic opportunity, freight movement and quality of life. Building what’s next requires more than vision. It requires results. ■

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PRODUCTS

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TransCore is driving what’s next – see how

Image: TransCore

IBTTA’s Annual Meeting in Arlington features the theme ‘Driving What’s Next’. TransCore’s booth will back it up with results. The company recently completed an all-overhead open road tolling conversion on the Atlantic City Expressway using its artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Infinity VCATS system, designed and deployed New York City’s first congestion pricing solution, and is actively modernising large toll systems for all-overhead operations across the country. Its solutions have helped decrease drive times and save agencies millions of dollars annually, earning recognition for advanced back office and roadside toll collection systems. At the booth, the focus will be on what’s next: the next-generation Infinity All-Overhead Tolling System with AI-powered VCATS, built to improve vehicle classification accuracy and transaction automation. TransCore will also showcase its advanced back office solutions, combining proven financial accounting and customer relationship management with flexible, cloud-based architecture, AI-enabled capabilities, and self-service tools designed to improve efficiency and deliver a better customer experience. ■

▶ Booth 425 www.transcore.com

Image: IBM

From back office to cybersecurity – IBM delivers

IBM will showcase a long history of innovation in tolling and its significant global footprint, processing more than four billion toll transactions annually. Key offerings include back-office systems, asset management software, cybersecurity, enterprise resource planning (ERP), and human resources (HR) solutions.

IBM’s back-office systems are configurable, modular and scalable, leveraging off-theshelf software to streamline processing, reduce errors, and serve multiple charging partners on a common platform. Components cover trip building and charging, invoicing and settlement, enforcement, service management, and customer

service. An intelligence layer helps identify and address revenue leakage, while uncovering opportunities to lower congestion, improve safety and enhance profitability. Asset management software for tolling authorities manage everything from real estate and fleets to equipment and supplies, plus linear assets such as roads and bridges. An intelligence layer can process data from sensors, third-party sources on pavement quality and work zones, and performance of roadside equipment. Meanwhile, as a premier global enterprise security vendor, IBM is recognised by major analysts including IDC and ISG for its comprehensive portfolio,

managed security services, and threat intelligence operations. Offerings now also include automated agents using artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing to stay ahead of an evolving threat landscape. In ERP and HR, IBM has a long track record of delivering foundational systems for many public transport clients, including those operating tolling programmes. Platforms include SAP, Oracle and Workday. With its strong market position, IBM is an important partner for toll authorities in lowering risk, enabling greater agility, and driving better outcomes for the communities they serve. ■

▶ Booth 510-512 www.ibm.com

Safety alerts without infrastructure burden Fleetworthy will showcase Smart Roadways, a connected vehicle solution that delivers location-specific safety alerts directly into the cab of commercial vehicles – without requiring agencies to install any roadside hardware. Smart Roadways connects transportation agencies to North America’s largest connected truck network, enabling timely delivery of alerts for congestion, work zones, sudden slowdowns, and other roadway hazards exactly when and where drivers need them. Alerts are triggered based on vehicle location, speed and direction of travel, ensuring relevant, real-time information reaches drivers through their existing in-cab technology – electronic logging devices (ELDs), tablets and smartphones.

▶ Booth 502 www.fleetworthy.com 14

OFFICIAL PREVIEW | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

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Q-Free says better tolling starts with better data Q-Free is also piloting in-vehicle technology designed to support road user charging, opening possibilities for virtual gantries and virtual toll roads. Seeing is believing and Q-Free invites delegates to stop by its booth to explore the latest Intrada back office technology, and to discover where the company is taking tolling next. ■

▶ Booth 308 www.q-free.com image: Q-Free

Every toll transaction begins with a fundamental question: who drove on the road? But what happens next determines how efficiently that answer translates into revenue. To help toll authorities maximise this process, Q-Free is expanding its Intrada back office. Beyond leading vehicle identification, the system now streamlines more of the operation, from image review and trip building to pricing, archiving, asset management, and continuous analysis of system health and performance. The approach is intentionally modular. Rather than replacing an entire tolling ecosystem, operators can implement proven, offthe-shelf technology where it makes the most sense. This reduces implementation time, cost and risk, while increasing automation and revenue assurance. At the heart of the Intrada back office is vehicle identification accuracy consistently above 99.95%. This precision is built on an understanding that identification goes far beyond simply reading a licence plate. Q-Free analyses the complete vehicle, combining plate details such as fonts, layouts and pictograms with vehicle characteristics like make and model to deliver highly accurate, automated identification. A dedicated team works year-round alongside artificial intelligence (AI) to understand new and evolving plate styles, continually improving performance. This same focus on accuracy and automation now extends throughout tolling operations and increasingly beyond the traditional toll road.

Star Systems: bridging tolling and connected mobility

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the accuracy, reliability and interoperability required for the most challenging tolling environments. The platform also features NanoSync, a synchronisation technology that optimises reader operations in multireader environments to reduce interference and enhance overall system performance. Looking beyond conventional tolling products, the company will highlight its Discovery-T2X platform, an innovative transponder-to-everything solution that bridges the gap between today’s tolling infrastructure and future V2X ecosystems. Supporting applications such as Radiofrequency identification (RFID) tolling, V2X communications, and connected mobility services, Discovery-T2X provides a practical path for agencies seeking to modernise existing operations while preparing for the future of connected mobility. Visitors can also discuss deployment strategies, migration approaches, and use cases with the company’s experienced team of experts. Drawing on

OFFICIAL PREVIEW | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

extensive deployment experience, the team helps customers address today’s operational challenges _while preparing for future technology transitions. ■

▶ Booth 711-713 https://star-int.net

image: Star Systems International

Visitors to the Star Systems International booth will explore technologies spanning high-performance tolling solutions and emerging vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications. The exhibit will feature the company’s multi-lane free flow (MLFF) solution, including readers, antennas and transponders designed to deliver reliable vehicle identification in demanding tolling environments. Built for accuracy and interoperability, these solutions support modern electronic toll collection. A key highlight will be the latest portfolio of OmniAir- and E-ZPass-certified transponders. Optimised specifically for automatic vehicle identification applications, these transponders combine interoperability, durability and highperformance radio frequency design to deliver reliable identification in challenging roadside environments. Also on display will be the Titan Pro, a high-performance multi-protocol reader engineered for demanding high-speed MLFF applications. With simultaneous multi-protocol support, Titan Pro delivers

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Smooth Operation. Revenue Protection. From day-to-day operations to revenue recovery, our management expertise turns existing tolling infrastructure into a system that performs.

Meet us at Booth #203 at the IBTTA Annual Meeting


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Quarterhill to expand tolling reach

These combined capabilities are expected to span more of the toll transaction chain, including roadside detection and vehicle identification, transaction processing, back-office systems, payment handling, customer service and enforcement support. Today, Quarterhill technology supports transportation operations across North America and around the world, processing billions of transactions and turning transport data into meaningful action. As artificial intelligence (AI), automation, and connected infrastructure reshape mobility, Quarterhill is building towards a future where transportation systems work more intelligently together. By connecting the roadway with the software, data and intelligence behind it, Quarterhill helps partners operate with confidence today while building a safer, smarter and more seamlessly connected future. ■

▶ Booth 503 www.quarterhill.com

Image: Quarterhill

Transportation is becoming more connected and complex. Agencies and operators are being asked to improve safety, mobility, and the customer experience while managing ageing infrastructure, evolving technology, and growing demands. Quarterhill will use the IBTTA 94th Annual Meeting & Exhibition to demonstrate how it helps bring clarity to that complexity. As a leading transportation technology company, Quarterhill connects software, infrastructure and operational intelligence to help customers make better decisions and operate with confidence. Across tolling, intelligent transportation systems, and multimodal transport, the company combines decades of industry experience with an expanding portfolio built for modern transportation. Quarterhill’s solutions span the transport ecosystem, from roadside detection, vehicle classification and commercial vehicle enforcement to tolling, back-office systems, data intelligence and mobility platforms. Together, these capabilities help agencies protect infrastructure, improve roadway safety, optimise operations and deliver more seamless experiences. That reach is set to expand further. Quarterhill has agreed to acquire Conduent’s tolling solutions business, a transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2026, subject to customary approvals. Upon closing, the combination will bring together complementary technology, deep industry expertise and long-standing agency relationships, while significantly expanding Quarterhill’s presence across the tolling lifecycle.

Vehicle ID with no transponder and no plate

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Visitors will also be able to see DOT Identity work with their own agency’s camera feeds. If an agency can provide access to one of its feeds, Tollscopic will demonstrate the system live in the exhibition hall, using the agency’s existing cameras and lanes without requiring new hardware.

OFFICIAL PREVIEW | 94th Annual Meeting and Exhibition

A conventional tolling system provides a plate read and a transponder ID: the Tollscopic platform reads sources beyond both, and each one is evidence upon which an operation can act. ■

▶ Booth 428 www.tollscopic.com

Image: Tollscopic

Tollscopic will use the IBTTA Annual Meeting to launch DOT Identity and will run the system live on its booth against real highway video. As the company states, every agency has the same blind spot: a heavy vehicle passes with no transponder and no readable plate, and the transaction is lost. However, the identity was there the whole time, painted on the door. Booth visitors will see one edge device pull carrier identities off trucks in real traffic: dirty doors, sharp angles, glare, digits wrapped across a cab panel. No animation, no curated dataset. Frames straight off the road, processed while you watch. This is not optical character recognition (OCR), which returns a string, and one wrong digit points you at the wrong carrier. DOT Identity is a vision language model and reads the whole door the way a person does: USDOT number, carrier name, authority number, domicile, gathered across multiple frames of the same truck. It scores that evidence against the federal carrier catalogue and resolves a carrier, not a string. Every truck it reads is revenue an agency was not collecting.

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OFFICIAL PREVIEW

Transforming tolling challenges into future-ready mobility

Image: Emovis

As Emovis prepares for the IBTTA Annual Meeting in Arlington, the company is showcasing why it has become a trusted partner across the global tolling ecosystem. With proven free-flow tolling deployments across six US cities, Emovis combines technology, operational expertise, and customer-focused solutions to help transportation leaders transform operations and secure revenue. Recognised with the 2023 IBTTA Private Sector Innovation Award, Emovis has delivered tolling solutions that strengthen compliance while helping to reduce recovery costs. Its expertise spans the full all-electronic tolling value chain, bringing together a portfolio of technology products – including roadside systems, operational backoffice capabilities, manual image review, commercial back-office platforms, and omnichannel tolling platforms – alongside specialised services for customer management and enforcement. Backed by the Abertis Group, one of the world’s leading operators of high-capacity motorways, Emovis draws on decades of experience across more than 8000km of infrastructure and projects in 10 countries. With more than 850 professionals worldwide, Emovis combines a global perspective with proven US delivery. At the IBTTA Annual Meeting, the company will showcase how its products, services and solutions are transforming tolling operations, turning today’s complex challenges into smarter, more efficient, and future-ready mobility.

▶ Booth 203 www.emovis.com

Hidden hero of tolling

A busy year for Milligan

MaxCell will be in Arlington to demonstrate how, for over 25 years, it has helped organisations maximise the performance and utilisation of underground conduit systems with flexible fabric innerduct solutions. Unlike traditional rigid innerduct, MaxCell conforms to cable shape, eliminating wasted conduit space and enabling greater cable density within existing pathways. This allows transport organisations to increase network capacity, accommodate future growth and defer costly conduit expansion projects. MaxCell can be deployed in new construction and existing occupied conduit systems, helping agencies create additional pathway capacity without the expense, disruption or permitting requirements associated with installing new conduit.

In 2026, Milligan’s experienced consultants have been helping tolling organisations tackle some of their most complex challenges, from technology deployments and back-office modernisation to business rules, succession planning, revenue audits, roadside equipment testing, procurements, and more. The company has even taken its expertise across the Atlantic with a new project in Greece. The projects may differ but the goal remains the same: to help its clients make smarter decisions, strengthen their organisations, and create better experiences for the people they serve. Stop by the Milligan booth in Arlington to meet the team and hear what they have been working on.

▶ Booth 812 www.maxcellsolutions.com

▶ Booth 620 www.milligan.co

Back office as a connected ecosystem Transport agencies have made significant investments in modernising customer service, tolling, payments, interoperability, and financial management. However, as ViaPlus points out, today’s challenge is understanding how those functions work together to support operational performance, customer outcomes, and revenue integrity. ViaPlus Alpha, which the company will be showcasing in Arlington, was developed around the concept of the back office as a single ecosystem rather than a collection of independent platforms. By bringing customer interactions, transaction processing, payments, interoperability, operations, and financial management into a common operating environment, Alpha provides a unified view of the customer-to-cash lifecycle.

▶ Booth 314-316 www.viaplus.com www.ibtta.org/events/94th-annual-meeting-exhibition | OFFICIAL PREVIEW

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Let’s create...

The traffic you’re not seeing?

smarter tolling

It’s supported by a back office built by IBM. Serving the fastest-growing metro area in North America, bills are accurate, leakage is low, and roads are safer thanks to incentives that shift when people drive and how they move. By using the toll road, city streets are less congested. Yet more people, goods and services are moving around than ever before. The secret? 86 years of innovation in tolling, collaborating with our clients to drive better outcomes, moving their communities forward. That’s smart.


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IBTTA official preview 2026 by Prime Group - Issuu