2008-05-03 19:11:03 -

www.etcc.com - Electronic Transaction Consultants Carla Kienast, 972-239-5001 Director of Corporate Communication carla.kienast@etcc.com On May 3, Washington State Department of Transportation's (WSDOT) first-ever high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes will begin offering solo drivers a new choice for their commute on State Route 167, an important nine-mile transportation route in the central Puget Sound area.

The four-year SR-167 HOT Lanes Pilot Project will assess how variable tolling can help make the state's roadways more efficient and less congested. This technically advanced and industry-leading project converted the existing two lanes of high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes to HOT lanes. The project uses ETC Corporation's open road tolling (ORT) technology and sophisticated dynamic pricing model. ETC's dynamic pricing model calculates the appropriate

toll based on several real-time factors, including the level of service in the adjacent general-purpose lanes, as well as the amount of traffic present in the HOT lanes.

There are no toll booths installed in the HOT lanes. All tolls are collected electronically using ORT, which allows vehicles to continue driving at highway speeds and not stop to pay tolls. Drivers are able to use Good to Go! stickers, also called transponders, which are also used to pay tolls on the State Route 16 Tacoma Narrows Bridge between Tacoma and Gig Harbor in southwest Washington.

WSDOT will be monitoring operations and adjusting the system during the four-year pilot project as well as gathering information on how the public reacts to the project.

"The HOT lanes project is just one example of several new transportation innovations that WSDOT is investigating to make our highways more efficient in moving more people," said Craig Stone, Washington State Department of Transportation Urban Corridors Administrator. "Building additional highway capacity is part of the solution, but that alone won't prepare us for the ever increasing demands on our roadways and bridges. Using advanced technology to get the most out of our roadways is an important part of our ability to move more goods and people in our region."

WSDOT identified several important objectives to be achieved by the project. These include:

-- Increase efficiency of the existing roadway

-- Improve the traffic flow and travel times along the SR-167 corridor

-- Achieve and maintain an acceptable level of service for HOV traffic in the HOT lanes

-- Leverage existing and proven Tacoma Narrows Bridge toll technology to incorporate the new dynamic pricing methodology to the HOT lanes project

-- Leverage WSDOT's existing intelligent transportation systems

The SR-167 HOT lanes will provide toll-free, express trips for transit vehicles and carpools and will also allow single-occupant vehicles that pay a toll to use the lanes when there is capacity for additional vehicles. Using ETC's RITE(R) dynamic pricing model, tolls will be used to keep traffic in the HOT lanes flowing at 45 mph or faster, even when the general-purpose lanes are congested. The toll rate will increase or decrease depending on the space available in the HOT lane.

Further information on the SR-167 HOT lanes project can be found at: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/SR167/HOTLanes.

About ETC:

Recognized for its innovation in the toll industry, ETC is a full-service provider of toll solutions, including systems integration, maintenance, operations and other services. Among its industry-leading accomplishments, ETC successfully delivered the system design and integration for the first all-electronic, open road toll facility in the U.S.; has designed and implemented technically complex 4+ express ORT lanes, and created advanced solutions for HOT (high occupancy toll) lanes. ETC's systems provide interoperability between geographically dispersed toll facilities, airports, parking, and commercial transportation operations. ETC's team introduced the industry's first Web-based toll solution suite, the RITE(R) Solution, which includes modules for Customer Service Center operations, Violation Processing Center, Audit & Reconciliation Host, Interoperability, Facility Server, and Lane Controller. ETC Corporation is a privately held company headquartered in Richardson, Texas. In December 2007, Autostrade International U.S. Holdings, Inc., an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary of Atlantia S.p.A., (Autostrade), one of the world's leading toll operators, took an investment position in ETC, creating the foundation for a long-term relationship between the two companies and positioning ETC for additional growth in the U.S. and international toll marketplace. More information on the company can be found at www.etcc.com.

Project Uses ETC Corporation's ORT and Dynamic Pricing Technology