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1.0 Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The purpose and focus of this report is to develop guidelines for designing and implementing traffic control strategies and devices at toll plazas that, for example, inform drivers which lanes to use for specific methods of payment, reduce speed variance, discourage lane changing and properly install equipment and devices. This was accomplished after researching related studies and reports, surveying current practices, and learning from the experience of experts within the toll collection industry. The goal is to achieve a consistent strategy for handling potential points of conflict, controlling flow of various vehicle types and conveying information at toll plazas so that safety and operations are enhanced, better efficiency and economy of design are achieved, and motorist recognition and comprehension are improved. This must be accomplished in consideration of the fact that each toll facility may desire its own unique identity.

This report addresses toll plazas built on mainline highway sections, access ramps, and approaches to bridges and tunnels. Different types of toll collection processes are addressed, including: automated cash/card/ticket, manual cash/card/ticket, and electronic toll collection (ETC). While this report covers plazas on roadway mainlines, interchange and access ramps, and approaches to bridges, and tunnels, the scope of the survey contained in Appendix A is limited to mainline plazas and approaches to bridges and tunnels. Therefore, design considerations and elements unique to ramp plazas may not be addressed in this report.

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Federal Highway Administration - United States Department of Transportation