ITS logo

Operational test demonstration on non-stop Electronic Toll Collection System (ETC) along the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line
(Prepared on December 17, 1997, based on Japan Highway Corporation press reference materials)

1. Overview of ETC operational test
Ministry of Construction, in cooperation with the four Highway Public Corporations, develops non-stop ETC systems which allow vehicles to pass through toll gates without requiring a vehicle to stop, for the purpose of alleviating congestion at toll gate sections.

Functional systems at Odawara toll booths along Odawara-Atsugi roads are:

(1) Single-fare tolling system lane facility
(2) Variable-fare tolling system on egress lane facility

Functional operation tests are conducted to validate safety and smoothness of traffic flow.

Another functional operation tests started on Dec.19, 1997, at Kisarazu tollgate on the main lane of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line is :

(3) Variable-fare tolling system on ingress lane facility
2. Functional operation tests (at toll booths on Odawara-Atsugi roads)
3. ETC
4. ETC operational tests on the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line
(1) Objective:

The toll facility sections on national expressways can be classified into three types: single-fare tolling system lane, variable-fare tolling system egress lane, and an egress lane.

Among them, the single-fare tolling system lane and a variable-fare tolling system egress lane are similar in their configuration and components arrangement. At Odawara-Atsugi toll gate section, both systems have been subject to test operations since March 1997 to examine location of roadside facilities and patterns of information display to verify the effectiveness of the system.

Since a variable-fare tolling system on ingress lane is different in configuration and component placement, a series of test operations is conducted at the ingress lane of the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line. The test operations are based on the results gained from traffic operation evaluation tests which were conducted at Public Works Research Institute of MOC during November and December, 1997. The aim of the test was to verify safe and smooth traffic flow at toll gate sections using general roads where general public motorists are passing through.

(2) Test vehicle:

About 20 test vehicles at an early stage,including road maintenance service vehicles

(3) Start of test operation:

Starts December 19, 1997

(4) Test site:

Kisarazu toll gates on a main lane for Kisarazu, in the Tokyo Bay Aqua-line
Reference: "Technical Conditions for ETC Systems"