Atkins has won three major US road tolling contracts for highway authorities in California, Florida and Texas. The wins will help the company build its expertise in tolling as other countries including the UK consider the option.

In California’s San Francisco Bay area Atkins will serve as the Metropolitan Transportation Commission’s toll system manager for the Regional Express Lane Network electronic toll system. The first phase of the MTC programme will create 120km of new express toll lanes that are due to open in 2015.

Express lanes are a road pricing option that allows drivers to switch into the lane if they are willing to pay. If the vehicle is carrying enough passengers the charges are waived. And for individual motorists the price varies according to traffic conditions and time of day with payments collected via an in-car transponder that drivers have to fit to their vehicles.

In Florida Atkins has been selected as general engineering consultant (GEC) for Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise and its 740km of tolled highways. Over 1.8M motorists travel on Florida’s Turnpike every day and it is considered to be one of the busiest highways in the US.

For the North Texas Tollway Authority Atkins will be providing GEC services, the authority’s first new GEC contract in more than 60 years and won by the UK firm after a competitive selection process.

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