The Thruway was the founding member of the consortium, called the Interagency Group. E-ZPass itself was first introduced in 1993 as an electronic toll collection system that takes cash, coins and toll tickets out of the toll collection process. The system uses electronic transponders or E-ZPass tags produced by Mark IV IVHS. The devices and associated E-ZPass tag readers located on each toll lane capture each customer's E-ZPass tag number.
A NYSTA-developed lane computer processes the electronic transaction that associates the E-ZPass tag number with the toll plaza and toll lane in which the vehicle traveled. The lane computer verifies that the customer is using a valid tag and then displays information on a driver feedback sign to indicate that the customer's account is in good standing or if the customer should contact the E-ZPass Service Center to resolve problems with his or her account. Electronic transaction information is forwarded to NYSTA headquarters for billing.
"It's really efficient," said Dave Martin, director of application development at the NYSTA. "You can pay one bill for traveling on numerous roadways. However, the real innovation happened when the agencies involved in creating this single system collaborated even though they don't report to a common authority."
