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TOMORROW IS THE LAST DAY TO PAY WITH CASH ON THE TOLL ROADS
Beginning Wednesday, May 14 at 12:01 a.m., cash toll collection will cease on The Toll Roads in Orange County, making travel faster and more convenient for the more than 250,000 weekday commuters who choose The Toll Roads.
“Tuesday will be the final day to pay with cash on The Toll Roads,” said Lisa Bartlett, chairwoman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. “The removal of cash tolls is a trend throughout the tolling industry and we’ve surveyed our cash customers to provide new electronic payment options that will work for them.”
In January, the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA), which operates The Toll Roads, introduced four new ways to pay tolls to replace cash toll collection. Along with the hugely-popular FasTrak® payment method, the three new ExpressAccount™ types and the new One-Time-Toll™ option make the drive on The Toll Roads fast and convenient.
More than 82 percent of transactions are already paid electronically using a FasTrak or ExpressAccount, while 13 percent are cash transactions.
“We want all customers to experience the benefits of a free-flowing drive that our FasTrak and ExpressAccount customers enjoy,” said Rush Hill, chairman of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency. “If they haven’t signed up for a FasTrak or ExpressAccount, now is the time to ensure you always have options.”
Tomorrow is also the final day of work for toll attendants, who have worked at the Toll Roads toll plazas since the first plaza opened in 1993. All toll personnel (toll attendants, lead toll attendants, managers, assistant managers, etc.) are contract employees of Central Parking System, the largest parking management firm in the country, operating approximately 700 parking locations in Orange and Los Angeles counties alone. CPS will seek to find alternate employment options for these employees in other company positions in Southern California.
“We honor the service they’ve provided our customers and they have been part of the success of The Toll Roads,” said Chairman Hill.
TIME IS TICKING: OPEN FASTRAK OR EXPRESSACCOUNT BEFORE CASH TOLL COLLECTION STOPS
In just six days cash toll collection will cease on The Toll Roads. Are you ready? If you have FasTrak® or AN ExpressAccount™ the answer is yes.
If you currently pay with cash when you drive State Routes 73, 133, 241 and 261, now is the time to decide how you will pay after 12:01 a.m. on May 14.
There are five ways to pay tolls on The Toll Roads: FasTrak, three new ExpressAccount types and the new One-Time-Toll option. Click here for information about the different account options and to learn which one is right for you.
TCA is offering new FasTrak and ExpressAccount customers a free week of nonstop driving as soon as they establish an account at thetollroads.com (PROMO CODE: FREETOLL). The offer ends May 11.
Will you join the 450,336 people who have a FasTrak account or the 69,619 who have an ExpressAccount?
SIGNS ON THE TOLL ROADS ARE GOING PURPLE
In anticipation of The Toll Roads removing cash toll collection on May 14 at 12:01 a.m., 121 new signs are being installed on the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads.
The new signs are purple, which is the color increasingly being used by tolling agencies across the nation to indicate that a road and/or lanes are tolled electronically.
The move to purple signage for all-electronic toll lanes started in 1991 in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. In 2008, the Federal Highway Administration officially supported the use of the color purple for electronic toll collection signs to facilitate smooth vehicle flow and eliminate driver confusion.
The new signs on The Toll Roads indicate that all drivers now use the former “FasTrak® Only” lanes. The appropriate tolls will be deducted from the FasTrak or ExpressAccount™ (charge, prepaid or invoice) the vehicle is registered to. If the driver does not have an account, they can use TheTollRoads.com or our free app to pay a One-Time-Toll™ within 48 hours after the trip.
The new One-Time-Toll signs have a blue background indicative of informational road signs and display our website where users can go to pay One-Time-Toll. Of the 121 new signs, 32 are One-Time-Toll signs.
Drivers who fail to pay a toll using one of the five, abovementioned options will receive a violation notice.
The signs will continue to be installed at night over the next several weeks.
In January, The Toll Roads introduced more ways to pay tolls to replace cash toll collection. Along with the hugely-popular FasTrak payment method, the three new ExpressAccount types make the drive on The Toll Roads fast and convenient — and most importantly — nonstop. With FasTrak and ExpressAccounts, all tolls are collected electronically while motorists travel at highway speeds.
For more information about the different account options and which one is right for you, please visit thetollroads.com. An ExpressAccount can only be used on The Toll Roads (State Routes 73, 133, 241 and 261) and the toll is, on average, 20 percent higher than the toll paid by a FasTrak customer.
ENJOY THE 14TH ANNUAL SPRING TOURS SERIES
You’re invited to The Toll Roads’ highly-anticipated 14th Annual Spring Tours Series. The 2014 Spring Tours celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Coyote Canyon Landfill Mitigation Site.
Participants will experience the natural beauty of Orange County on guided walks through land set aside and protected with the construction of the 73, 133, 241 and 261 Toll Roads.
Led by the restoration specialist and biologist who has spent the last two decades restoring the sites to their native habitat and contributing to The Toll Roads’ award-winning environmental programs, this year’s tours focus on the comprehensive efforts and commitment to environmental conservation and restoration, and provide an exclusive glimpse into special areas of Orange County that few have ever seen.
In addition to its guided nature walks, this year The Toll Roads will host a special 20th Anniversary Community Expo to mark the successful restoration of the closed landfill. The expo is free, family-friendly and open to the public.
Bonita Creek – May 3 – Restoration & Bird Watching Tour: 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The 21-acre Bonita Creek restoration area is part of the main wildlife link from Upper Newport Bay to the San Joaquin Hills. It was restored with the construction of the 73 Toll Road from a narrow rip-rap lined ditch and underground culverts to a viable riparian habitat rich with wildlife. This easy, three-mile guided walkwill be primarily on a paved path and along the San Diego Creek to a restored saltwater marsh. It will focus on plants and the methods used to restore the creek and riparian habitat. Bird watchers will see wetland and coastal sage scrub bird species and binoculars are highly recommended. The tour will be led by a restoration specialist and an avian biologist and is designed for participants over the age of 12.
Coyote Canyon – May 17 – Guided Walk: 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Come and join as The Toll Roads celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Coyote Canyon Landfill Mitigation Site and its spectacular environmental achievements as the nation’s first native habitat for the protection of a federally-listed species to be implemented on a closed landfill. This moderate, five-mile guided walkthrough restoration areas on the landfill allows the public to see the natural restoration firsthand. Participants will learn about the innovative revegetation techniques that successfully established more than 122 acres of native, drought tolerant habitat.
Space on the guided walks is limited; call (949) 754-3405 or email ycruz@thetollroads.com to sign up.
Coyote Canyon – May 17 – 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Toll Roads are joining with the County of Orange, the City of Newport Beach and other partners to host a free, family-friendly public expo to celebrate two decades of environmental excellence. The free open house expo is open to all and includes fun educational booths and discussions on the science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) used to operate this landfill during its post-closure process, including multi-use designs for gas recovery and native habitat restoration.
Directions: From State Route 73: Exit Newport Coast Drive and head south past Sage Hill High School. Turn right at the traffic signal to arrive at the destination. From Pacific Coast Highway: Take PCH to Newport Coast Drive and make a legal U-turn at Turtle Crest Drive. Pass Sage Hill High School and make a right at the traffic signal to arrive at the destination.
CASH TOLL COLLECTION ENDS MAY 14 AT 12:01 A.M.
May 13 is the last day to pay with cash on The Toll Roads (State Routes 73, 133, 241 and 261). Cash toll collection will cease on the roadways on Wednesday, May 14, at 12:01 a.m.
Visit TheTollRoads.com to see our new clock counting down the days until cash toll collection is removed.
“This is an exciting time for our Toll Road customers,” said Lisa Bartlett, chairwoman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. “We’re saying good-bye to cash, but we’re welcoming fast, more convenient ways for customers to pay their tolls.”
“We’re seeing the end of an era, but The Toll Roads are definitely riding the wave of change. Paying cash for most things today is quickly becoming obsolete,” said Rush Hill, chairman of the San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agency. “With our new nonstop system, gone will be the need to stop at toll plazas and fumble around for exact change.”
In January, The Toll Roads introduced four new ways to pay tolls to replace cash toll collection. Along with the hugely-popular FasTrak® payment method, the three new ExpressAccount™ types and the new One-Time-Toll option make every trip on The Toll Roads fast and convenient.
Click here for more information about the different account options and which one is right for you. An ExpressAccount can only be used on The Toll Roads (SRs 73, 133, 241 and 261) and the toll is, on average, 20 percent higher than the toll paid by a FasTrak customer.
GOT QUESTIONS? THE TOLL ROADS HAVE ANSWERS
As The Toll Roads prepare to remove cash toll collection from the roadway in May, new and long-time customers also are preparing for the change.
Below are the most commonly-asked questions from customers via The Toll Roads’ social media (Facebook and Twitter), website and customer call center.
Q. I’ve signed up for an ExpressAccount, now what do I do? What lane do I use?
A. Once you’ve signed up for an ExpressAccount, you may immediately use it on The Toll Roads, driving in the lanes marked “FasTrak” and avoiding the need to stop at toll plazas.
With the new, transponder-free ExpressAccounts, images of a vehicle’s license plate taken on The Toll Roads are linked to an account and the appropriate toll is collected. ExpressAccount customers may choose one of three payment options: prepaid, charge or invoice accounts.
Remember, ExpressAccount only works on The Toll Roads in Orange County (SRs 73, 133, 241 and 261). To travel on other tolled bridges, lanes and roads in California — including the 91 Express Lanes — you must have a FasTrak account.
Q. Do I have to switch from FasTrak to one of the new ExpressAccounts?
A. No. FasTrak customers don’t need to make any changes with the introduction of the new ExpressAccounts. FasTrak is still the preferred way to pay tolls electronically because tolls, on average, are 20 percent lower and FasTrak may be used on all tolled bridges, lanes and roads in California, including the 91 Express Lanes and the LA Metro ExpressLanes. ExpressAccounts use license plate tolling technology and are designed for customers who only use The Toll Roads and use them infrequently.
Q. I have a FasTrak account. With license plate tolling, can I drive without my transponder?
A. If you choose to remain a FasTrak customer, you must keep your transponder mounted to your vehicle’s windshield. This ensures that you are charged the reduced FasTrak toll.
If you choose to switch to an ExpressAccount, which uses images of your license plates to collect tolls and may only be used on the 73, 133, 241 and 261, then you must return your transponder to The Toll Roads and transfer from FasTrak to an ExpressAccount. Please call the customer service center at (949) 727-4800 or visit our walk-in centers in Irvine or San Clemente to process this transaction.
Q. What are the lights I see now flashing at the toll plaza when I drive through?
A. Proven state-of-the-art tolling equipment is being installed at every tolling location in preparation for the removal of cash toll collection in May. The equipment supports FasTrak and the three new ExpressAccount types.
Drivers will notice that the lights on overhead gantries have already changed. Because the ExpressAccount payments use license plate numbers – instead of FasTrak transponders – to collect tolls, each vehicle’s front and back license plates must now be illuminated so that a photo can be taken.
Formerly, only black and white photos were taken of license plates using infrared lighting to identify vehicles that did not pay the toll. Now, color images with a greater level of detail are required. These photos ensure that the correct license plate is linked to the corresponding ExpressAccount. The lights are the same type used on police cars, ambulances and fire trucks around the country as they share the roadway with other drivers. At The Toll Roads’ tolling locations, the light produces a safe, momentary 200 microsecond flash.
Q. I signed up for an ExpressAccount with the “charge” option. When and how will I see toll charges on my credit card?
A. With the new ExpressAccount options, customers may choose three ways to pay:
- Charge – At the end of each day, customers’ tolls are processed to the credit card on file for each trip on The Toll Roads. You may see a transaction that evening or soon thereafter, depending on your bank.
- Prepaid – Customers open an account with a prepaid balance and tolls are deducted from the amount whenever they use The Toll Roads.
- Invoice – Customers are sent an invoice at the close of the month for tolls incurred that month; no need to use a credit card or link a bank account to your account. This account type includes an invoice fee.
Q. When is the last day The Toll Roads will be accepting cash on the roads?
A. Cash toll collection will end in May 2014.TCA is currently working on a final schedule for completing the installation of the new technology and posting new signage on the roads. An exact date in May for the final day of cash collection will be announced as soon as a date is finalized.
Q. How will tourists and out-of-town guests use The Toll Roads without cash toll collection?
A. The Toll Roads have also introduced One-Time-Toll, a payment option designed for infrequent toll road drivers and visitors. They may use The Toll Roads at their convenience and pay their tolls within 48 hours after their trip at TheTollRoads.com or via our free app—all without the need to establish an ExpressAccount or a FasTrak account. The app is available for download by accessing the Apple App Store or Google Play Store from a device and, then, typing in “FasTrak” or “The Toll Roads” in the search function.
THE TOLL ROADS APP REACHES 112,000 DOWNLOADS
The Toll Roads’ popular app has reached more than 112,000 downloads, allowing customers to open new accounts and manage existing accounts with ease and convenience using their mobile device.
In May, the entire Toll Roads network (State Routes 73, 133, 241 and 261) will end cash toll collection, so customers who drive on the roads will never have to stop and pay their tolls. All tolls will be paid electronically through five different options: 1) a FasTrak® account 2) one of three new ExpressAccount™ types or 3) the One-Time-Toll™ option, which does not require the driver to have an account and is designed for infrequent users and visitors.
“With the removal of cash, The Toll Roads’ app is a convenient way for customers to manage their accounts and pay tolls from wherever they are,” said Lisa Telles, chief communications officer at The Toll Roads.
Originally released in May 2012 (version 2.0 was released in February), the app is available for download by accessing the Apple App Store or Google Play Store from a device and, then, typing in “FasTrak” or “The Toll Roads” in the search function. The app allows users to sign up for FasTrak or an ExpressAccount or pay a toll using the One-Time-Toll option within 48 hours after their trip on The Toll Roads.
Customers with a FasTrak or ExpressAccount may use the account management features of the app, including:
- View account balances
- Make payments
- Edit account information
- Add or remove vehicles, including rental and loaner vehicles
- Request additional FasTrak transponders
- Review recent activity.
For the month of February, customers used the app for the following:
- 828 new accounts (FasTrak or ExpressAccount) were opened
- 4,259 vehicle updates were made
- 4,332 payments were made
- 2,359 payment methods (i.e., updating credit cards on file) were updated
- 350 people used the One-Time-Toll feature.
For more information about the different account options, please visit thetollroads.com. An ExpressAccount can only be used on The Toll Roads (SRs 73, 133, 241 and 261) and the toll is, on average, 20 percent higher than the toll paid by a FasTrak customer.
MICHAEL KRAMAN APPOINTED ACTING CEO OF ORANGE COUNTY’S TOLL ROADS AGENCIES
The Boards of Directors of the Foothill/Eastern and San Joaquin Hills Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) have appointed Michael Kraman as acting chief executive officer of the agencies. Kraman joined TCA as chief engineer in May 2012 and has a long history in the private sector of leading teams that delivered significant capital projects.
“Mike Kraman is committed to accomplishing TCA’s goals in a financially responsible manner,” said Lisa Bartlett, Chairwoman of the Foothill/Eastern Transportation Corridor Agency. “He is the right person to lead the agencies as we work toward the May removal of cash toll collection from the roadways and educate drivers about the new ways to pay tolls without stopping.”
During his 30-year career, Kraman has developed complex transportation infrastructure projects including state highways, interchanges, rail and port facilities. As TCA’s chief engineer, Kraman has been charged with the oversight of environmental planning, engineering design, construction and contracting activities for California’s largest network of toll roads. As a member of the agencies’ executive team, he has been involved in the strategic outlook and financing for the system, as well as its daily operations.
Prior to joining TCA, Kraman served as the Southern California District Leader for HNTB Corporation – a national infrastructure solutions firm serving public and private owners and construction contractors — where he was responsible for operations in Orange County, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego. He served as the design manager for the $1 billion 405 Sepulveda Pass Widening design-build project in West Los Angeles which included its week-long full freeway closure event coined “Carmaggedon” that took place in July 2011.
Kraman earned a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from the United States Coast Guard Academy and a master of science in civil engineering degree from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. He is a registered professional engineer in California and numerous other states.
“I am honored to be given the opportunity to lead TCA during this important time, when we are seeing both traffic and revenue grow on the 51-mile toll road network,” said Kraman. “The agencies’ staff is experienced, long-tenured, dedicated and focused on our core mission of improving mobility in Southern California without the use of taxpayer dollars.”
WE’RE HIRING: CONTROLLER
We’re hiring a controller.
Reporting to the chief financial officer, this individual is responsible for managing the preparation of financial statements and reports. The controller will monitor and confirm the organization’s financial condition and will provide information to and act as a liaison with external auditors.
In addition, this individual will supervise the accounting efforts between the Finance and Toll Operations departments to ensure that all toll and violation transactions are reflected appropriately in the general ledger.
The controller serves as the principal liaison with banking institutions and reviews transfers and disbursements of toll revenues and construction funds. The controller will also establish, monitor and enforce policies and procedures to maintain effective internal controls. Assuring compliance with master indentures of trust, disbursement from trust funds and assisting with forecasts of indenture funds is a responsibility of the controller.
A thorough knowledge of generally accepted accounting principles, internal financial controls, auditing principles and practices is required. This position requires:
- A bachelor’s degree in accounting or a closely related field
- Approximately five years professional accounting experience
- One to two years of public/government experience
- Two years of auditing experience
- Two years direct supervision of accounting staff
A CPA license is preferred and a master’s degree is desirable. The salary range is $98,601 to $147,902 and resumes will be accepted through Friday, March 21, 2014.
For consideration, e-mail, fax or mail your resume with salary history to: Human Resources Transportation Corridor Agencies 125 Pacifica, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618 E-mail: recruit@thetollroads.com FAX: 949-754-3467 EOE/V/F/M www.thetollroads.com
