Heather Wills, STV

Toll Insight spoke with Heather Wills, Vice President - National Tolling Director at STV.

How has STV historically provided innovative solutions for tolling commissions and agencies throughout the United States?

STV’s team of planners, engineers and project delivery experts has been at the forefront of many tolling innovations for our clients over the last 30 years. From the introduction of E-ZPass and the Northeast regional electronic tolling network in in the 1990s, to the more recent conversions of all-electronic tolling systems across the United States, STV has played a key role in many milestone programs for clients like the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC), Illinois Tollway, Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority in New York, the Oklahoma Turnpike Authority (OTA), the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) , the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission (DRJTBC) and the Maryland Transportation Authority (MDTA).

We’re proud of our team that helped deliver Oklahoma’s very first all-electronic tollway along the Creek Turnpike at the Elm Street Interchange in Jenks. Our design team worked with OTA to pilot cashless tolling on the Creek Turnpike before the system was further rolled out on the John Kilpatrick Turnpike (JKT) in 2021. Our team also provided a broad range of engineering design services for improvements along the JKT that helped facilitate all-electronic tolling. Similarly, STV performed engineering design services for Pennsylvania’s first four-directional all-electronic interchange on PA Route 29, while we were the General Engineering Consultant for an 8-mile segment of I-95 in East Baltimore, MD, that is dubbed the “spaghetti bowl” for its complex geometry. This section of I-95 marked Maryland’s first instance of open road tolling.

Additionally, we’ve supported tolling commissions and authorities on unique programs like serving as the construction manager for the PTC’s first foray into accelerated bridge construction at five bridges along the roadway’s Northeast Extension. During this program, STV managed the placement of replacement bridge spans that were “slid” into place over a 55-hour window.

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What do you personally think is the most pressing issue tolling clients currently face that consultants like STV can support?

Across the board we’re seeing a movement towards integrating more advanced technology into our tolling systems. That includes the aforementioned transition from cash-based to all-electronic toll collection, but also mobility solutions that connect to larger “Smart City” initiatives. This is a wonderful development because it reflects a more holistic approach to transportation infrastructure – one that can align with a client’s goals related operational efficiency and reducing vehicular emissions. However, it also presents clients with a potentially overwhelming number of tolling solution options. It represents a significant shift in how clients are approaching transportation funding and congestion management, making firms like STV a valuable partner in supporting tolling authorities and commissions.

Our team advocates for a unified approach that encourages technological innovation and data sharing to pave the way for smarter transportation solutions that align with urban growth and other local goals.

How is STV leveraging data and digital solutions for tolling clients?

As tolling systems and the needs of the community become more complex and nuanced, the need to leverage data and technology is becoming increasingly important. STV has national experts in ITS and mobility technologies, as well as digital advisory, who are leveraging emerging digital tools like artificial intelligence and predicative analytics to develop cutting-edge insights into things like traffic patterns, environmental impacts, demographics and economic conditions.

However, our team also understands that data analysis alone is not enough to create tolling infrastructure that serves a broad spectrum of stakeholders. We understand that the right technology can turn insights into action. That includes advising our clients on proper cases for integrating technology systems like dynamic toll pricing, where tolls adjust based on real-time traffic and demand; or data-driven outreach platforms that leverage insights from socioeconomic and mobility data so tolling authorities can identify and engage with communities that new tolling systems may impact.

How important is coalition building within the tolling industry to pushing forward future programs? How does STV facilitate those conversations?

Tolling, on its face, is generally not a popular proposition for a community, so it’s crucial to engage stakeholders like residents, business owners and community-based organizations (CBOs) and others to build coalitions when launching a tolling or pricing project. The best way to approach coalition building is with a powerful educational campaign that is rooted in goals and demonstrates a clear, shared vision. Within that campaign, we must discuss the benefits, i.e. the problem we are solving, as well as questions like “how will the revenue be used.” Without that compelling message that connects drivers to the outcomes of what they are paying for, developing a toll project is almost insurmountably challenging.

There are other groups that will typically need to be engaged in this process as well like government officials and transportation advocates. Also, the freight community has unique operational needs and challenges, so their input on toll system design can help us prioritize minimizing service disruptions while accommodating logistics requirements. Because freight transportation is so crucial to the economy, engagement with this industry provides commissions and authorities with the insights needed to price appropriately so as not to hinder economic activity or increase other costs excessively.

How can STV’s team support tolling clients in providing the economic analysis and resilience planning they need for new programs?

As is the case with most infrastructure, economic analyses are often a vital tool for helping to establish tangible credibility to investment in new programs. STV’s team has a strong track record in working with clients to help identify the economic benefits of a proposed program, including its impacts to job growth, commuting patterns, the environment and more. Additionally, with so many pricing models currently being explored by authorities and commissions – i.e. congestion pricing, managed lanes, “choice” lanes, etc. – having our team of infrastructure economists is key for advising clients on potential outcomes while a program is still in its conceptual phase.

Similarly, with the current rise in extreme weather events across the United States, the need to develop infrastructure that is resilient against flooding, fires, seismic activity, et al., has become paramount. As a lot of tolling infrastructure in certain parts of the country is in coastal locations, our team has the expertise to work with clients so that systems are more adaptable and recoverable following a climate event.