The newer, more versatile and affordable tags overcome the cost barrier to widespread adoption of electronic toll collection technology, making it more attractive to migrate to all electronic toll roads and increase the number of customers who pay tolls wirelessly versus manually. The more than three million hardcase SunPass tags currently in use will work alongside the new "mini" tags. Around the country, the eGo Plus technology has also been adopted for high speed tolling by Houston's Harris County Toll Road Authority, the Texas Department of Transportation, and the Washington Department of Transportation.
As technology continues to erase boundaries and convenience becomes central to customer service, acceptance of wireless payments systems for other applications such as paying for parking or access to gated communities has grown.
Throughout Florida, the use and ease of the SunPass system has spread to airport parking operations with airports in the midst of deploying interoperable payment systems in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa and West Palm Beach.
"Florida's Turnpike Enterprise continues to demonstrate its commitment to improving motorists' experience by implementing innovative open road tolling designs and providing newer interoperable technology," said John Simler, president of TransCore Intelligent Transportation Systems Group.
With the growing interest in more environmentally friendly technology, the new stickers could mean less congestion and time spent idling at toll plazas. The smaller profile tag also consumes less petroleum based raw material to manufacture and reduces transportation and shipping requirements. The fact that the tag doesn't contain a battery eliminates the additional cost and demand for batteries' and subsequent storage and disposal requirements.
