PIPS Technology Automated License Plate Recognition Allows Metro Denver's E-470 to Celebrate Independence from Cash

UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill., Sept. 15 -- PIPS Technology, a Federal Signal Company, today announces that its Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR) technology has enabled the E-470 tollway in Denver to move to a totally cashless, All Electronic Tolling (AET) solution.

On July 4th, the E-470 tollway celebrated an Independence Day of symbolic importance - an independence from cash. A 47-mile tollway around the eastern perimeter of Denver, E-470 has been in operation since 1991 using a combination of EXpressToll (RFID transponder) lanes and cash payment booths. With an impressive 70% adoption rate using EXpressToll, the E-470 management team began looking for ways to further enhance traveler convenience and satisfaction, while also improving traffic flow and safety on its roadway. The result of this effort was the elimination of all cash collection points on the tollway, which are known to create traffic bottlenecks as well as safety concerns due to the merging and slowing down of vehicles using the cash lanes.

The management of E-470 adopted PIPS Technology's SpikeHD ALPR system to deliver this solution, which they termed License Plate Toll (LPT). Drivers not possessing an EXpressToll transponder now enjoy the same time savings and safety of open road tolling (ORT) by driving through toll collection points at normal highway speed and using the LPT system, and using their license plate as a means of identification. "The transition to a cashless tolling system has been very smooth and convenient for our customers," said Ed DeLozier, executive director of E-470.

In the absence of a transponder, the E-470 LPT system uses the vehicle's license plate number, identified by the PIPS' SpikeHD ALPR system, to identify the registered owner of the vehicle and generate a monthly bill for all tolls incurred in a given month. The accuracy of the SpikeHD system, coupled with the automation of E-470's violation review system and escalation process, has already shown significant reductions in toll revenue leakage of almost 20% as well as improvements in overall operating costs relative to cash collection. Dave Kristick, director of E-470's operations, added, "The E-470 LPT system is an excellent example of where the future of tolling is headed. This project was an example of how a toll authority, working with toll industry vendors, can create a unique, repeatable, solution to move the industry forward."

"PIPS Technology is very pleased with the outcome of the E-470 project, and looks forward to a bright future relative to our position as an industry leading supplier of ALPR and tolling solutions. We will continue to innovate and respond to the needs of our tolling customers in their quest to improve their operations while providing added value to the travelers on their roadways," says Craig Cantrell, General Manager of PIPS Technology.

About PIPS Technology: PIPS Technology, a Federal Signal company, is the world leader of Automated License Plate Recognition technology. With over 15 years of experience of designing and manufacturing the most advanced ALPR systems available, PIPS now has over 17,000 cameras deployed worldwide in applications such for road user charging, congestion mitigation, origin-destination studies, travel time measurement systems, electronic vehicle registration (EVR), average speed enforcement and traffic data collection.