US-based San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) has selected Kapsch TrafficCom to upgrade the toll systems at two regional highways.

The Interstate 15 (I-15) Express Lanes and the ten-mile State Route 125 toll road (South Bay Expressway) currently operate on separate systems.

As part of the agreement, Kapsch will replace all in-lane equipment and provide a new software support system that can monitor and control all roadside equipment and data.

The company will initially provide a single, fully expandable system at 36 toll points along a 20-mile stretch of the I-15, and at 16 toll points along the South Bay Expressway.

“Integrating the two roads within a single system will provide an efficient and consistent way for drivers to travel in the San Diego region.”

The agreement will also see the installation of new vehicle detection and classification (nVDC) sensors at all toll locations along the two highways.

The sensor product can identify, track and classify vehicles through the entire toll zone using stereoscopic video, as well as correlates licence plate images with vehicle transponder readings to ensure accurate toll transaction processing.

It does not require any additional in-pavement equipment and is capable of providing a visual confirmation for vehicle classification.

Kapsch will be responsible for providing maintenance support for all technology deployed during the project.

Kapsch TrafficCom North America president Chris Murray said: “Integrating the two roads within a single system will provide an efficient and consistent way for drivers to travel in the San Diego region.”

The project will be managed by the company locally from its regional office in San Diego County.

SANDAG issued a notice to proceed to Kapsch last December.