Company’s Know-How in Tolling Assessment to Benefit Capital Beltway project

Boxborough, Mass. — August 13, 2012 — TÜV Rheinland’s Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) group has been selected to provide user acceptance testing (UAT) support for the 495 Express Lanes, the new high-occupancy toll (HOT) lanes opening on the Virginia side of the I-495/Capital Beltway at the end of 2012. The 495 Express Lanes project is one of the largest transportation endeavors in the US, aiming to ease traffic on one of the country’s most congested corridors.

 The 495 Express Lanes will provide a faster, more direct travel choice for carpoolers, bus service users and toll-paying customers. Two new express lanes will operate in each direction, from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road (approximately 14 miles).

 “Development of express lanes is a growing trend in traffic management solutions,” said Suzanne Murtha, Business Development Manager for TÜV Rheinland. “Virginia has emerged as a national leader in public-private partnership development and advanced transportation planning and management, largely due to the 495 Express Lanes project.”

 TÜV Rheinland ITS was selected to join the project by Transurban, the concessionaire and long-term operator of the 495 Express Lanes. TÜV Rheinland ITS has extensive experience in tolling and ITS assessment in Europe and the US. It will work together with Traffic Technologies, Inc. (TTI), a firm that provides comprehensive transportation consulting services for ITS, Electronic Toll Collection and conventional tolling environments.

 “The integrated 495 Express Lanes system will provide great benefits to the traveling public,” said Tony Adams, vice president Development and Major Project Support, Transurban (USA) Operations Inc. “In identifying support for the UAT, Transurban selected TUV and TTI based on their well-rounded team and experience in working on all-electronic tolling systems.”

 Scheduled to last through fall 2012, UAT is a key testing component of the project that will involve testing all aspects of the Express Lanes tolling hardware and software to ensure a fully tested and integrated system. 

The 495 Express Lanes are new high occupancy toll (HOT) lanes that will operate on the I-495/Capital Beltway to provide drivers faster and more predictable travel options on I-495. The two new HOT lanes in each direction on the Virginia side of the Capital Beltway are from the Springfield Interchange to just north of the Dulles Toll Road (approximately 14 miles). Being delivered through a public-private partnership between the Virginia Department of Transportation and Transurban-Fluor, the Express Lanes will give drivers the freedom to control how and when they arrive at their destination. For more information, please visit 495ExpressLanes.com. 

TÜV Rheinland’s specialists in ITS act as impartial advisors to help suppliers, procurers and operators select the right technology as well as help producers and developers of ITS create and implement their design concepts. The company’s worldwide network of experts provides a wide range of services for all phases in the lifecycle of ITS. To learn more about TÜV Rheinland’s ITS, visit www.tuv.com/us.

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About Transurban Group

Transurban Group is a toll road owner and operator with interests in Australia and the US. It partners with governments to meet the long-term transportation infrastructure needs of communities, with a focus on sustainability, safety, innovation and efficiency. For more information, go to http://www.transurban.com.

 About Traffic Technologies, Inc.

Traffic Technologies, Inc. provides comprehensive transportation consulting services that deliver optimum performance in ITS, ETC and conventional tolling environments, ranging from the development of new systems from the ground up to the refinement of existing facilities. The company’s capabilities deliver new and refined transportation systems that meet the performance and reliability objectives of public agencies and their private-sector partners. For more information, visit http://www.t-t-i.com.

 About TÜV Rheinland

Founded in 1872, TÜV Rheinland is a global leader in independent testing, inspection, and certification services, ensuring quality and safety for people, the environment and technology in nearly all aspects of life. The company maintains a presence in 500 locations spanning 61 countries, employs 16,000 people and has an annual revenue of $1.9 billion (€1.4 billion). TÜV Rheinland inspects technical equipment, products and services, oversees projects and helps to shape processes for a wide variety of companies through its worldwide network of approved labs, testing facilities and education centers. Since 2006, the company has been a member of the United Nations Global Compact to promote sustainability and combat corruption. For more information, visit www.tuv.com/us.