Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Selects TransCore To Upgrade Toll Systems For The Macdonald And Mackay Bridges

The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission, a self-supporting entity responsible for the two suspension bridges across Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia, selected TransCore to upgrade its 24-lane toll collection system and toll plaza host computer subsystems that support the Angus L Macdonald and A. Murray Mackay Bridges. The project is valued at approximately $4M and will be completed by summer of 2008. The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission has deployed TransCore's Amtech RFID technology for its MACPASS electronic toll collection for more than a decade.

With bridge traffic expected to increase annually, the commission's objective is to upgrade the current system to accommodate expansion and lay a foundation for regional interoperability with other toll facilities in the Canadian Maritime Provinces. Combined, the two bridges handle a weekday traffic volume of approximately 100,000 vehicles through 24 toll lanes. In 2006 alone, there were more than 32 million crossings of the bridges with 50 percent of tolls paid through wireless electronic toll collection.

"Expanding capacity and services to our motorists meant upgrading our system capabilities," said Steve Snider, general manager and chief executive officer for the Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission. "Identifying a partner with the experience that could provide the best value and service proposition was crucial."

TransCore will rebuild the system by replacing all lane controllers; installing new touch-screen terminals in attended lanes; new receipt printers in attended lanes; new automatic vehicle classification system in all lanes and video imaging system in select lanes; a new network for the interconnection of lane, plaza, host and workstations; and installing new plaza and host servers and applications.

About Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission
The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission is a self-supporting entity responsible for the two suspension bridges across Halifax Harbour in Nova Scotia; the Angus L. Macdonald Bridge and the A. Murray MacKay Bridge. The commission's mission is to provide safe, convenient and reliable passage for bridge users at an appropriate cost. Financing, administering, maintaining and operating the Macdonald and MacKay Bridges are wholly funded by the revenue collected from bridge tolls. Using a MACPASS transponder is the easiest and quickest option for paying bridge tolls electronically.

The Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission was created in 1950 by a statute of the Province of Nova Scotia. On May 19, 2005, a new Halifax-Dartmouth Bridge Commission Act (Bill No. 198) received Royal Assent. This is the first new legislation governing the commission since its inception, fifty-seven years ago. The Commission has the authority to construct, maintain and operate the bridges and a transportation project across Halifax Harbor and the North West Arm, and to assess, market, license, implement, provide, maintain and integrate electronic collection systems.

About TransCore
TransCore is dedicated to driving inefficiencies out of surface transportation through innovation. With products and installations in 46 countries, more than 100 patents worldwide, and pioneering applications of RFID and satellite communications technologies, TransCore's expertise is unparalleled in the transportation markets it serves. In 2007, Engineering News-Record (ENR) ranked TransCore No. 60 out of the Top 500 Design Firms and No. 11 for firms that specialize in transportation.

TransCore's Government Services Group specializes in applications tailored for toll collection and traffic management systems. The company's global experience includes more than 7,400 installed electronic toll collection lanes worldwide and 22 customer service centers. TransCore offers an extensive suite of enterprise software applications, business process outsourcing, system integration, and maintenance services to provide complete solutions configurable to customers' requirements. Recently, TransCore was awarded the 2007 TEAMFL Chairman's Award for the first reversible open road tolling system. In 2005 the Delaware E-ZPass Service Center, which TransCore operates for the Delaware Department of Transportation, won the prestigious International Bridge Tunnel and Turnpike Association Toll Innovation and Excellence Award for outstanding performance.

TransCore operates as a unit of Roper Industries, a market-driven, diversified growth company with 2006 revenues of $1.7B and a market capitalization of over $4B. Roper is a component of the S&P Mid-Cap 400, Fortune 1000 and Russell 1000 Indexes. For more information, visit www.transcore.com

SOURCE: TransCore