The (R)Evolution of Toll-Collection Technology

Toll collection is perhaps the fairest way to finance and maintain roads. When you go to the grocery store, you pay for what you use. Why should roads be any different? Why should you be taxed to finance a road in some remote part of the county, state, or country that you never or rarely use? Since, with the increasing gas mileage of vehicles, gas tax revenues are decreasing, toll financing of roads is the face of the future. Further, the evolution of toll collection technology has removed the hassle (and safety) factor of stopping, queuing up to pay cash to a toll attendant for passage, and then merging with other traffic back to highway speeds. It is interesting to take a quick look at the (r) evolution of the technology employed in the toll collection industry. What one observes is that it actually costs very little to allow someone to use a road, bridge, or tunnel. The cost lies in collecting the amount due for the passage.