Modernizing Utah’s tolling system through vision-based, dynamic solutions that enhance efficiency, fairness, and customer experience on the I-15 Express Lanes.
The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is leading the way in tolling innovation with a comprehensive modernization of its I-15 Express Lanes. Spanning 82 miles, these lanes are a critical corridor for commuters and freight, but legacy tolling systems faced challenges with occupancy enforcement, revenue leakage and limited flexibility for future mobility models.
In response, our teams replaced traditional transponder-based systems with a new vision-based platform that leverages license plate recognition (LPR), adopts dynamic pricing, and uses a mobile app for occupancy verification to increase operational efficiency, reduce violations and support new revenue models such as Tolling-as-a-Service (TaaS) and Road Usage Charging (RUC) to position Utah as a national leader in tolling technology.
Innovative solutions for modern mobility
UDOT’s tolling transformation addresses long-standing challenges in managed lane operations. The new system integrates advanced LPR technology, enabling accurate vehicle identification and dynamic toll calculation without the need for physical transponders.
Our specialist teams led the design and deployment of a pilot smartphone app for real-time vehicle occupancy declaration and verification, reducing carpool violations and supporting fair tolling. We also introduced a new customer engagement platform, RewardLanes, which incentivizes compliant behavior through toll credits and rewards. The phased implementation of these solutions allowed for field testing and continuous improvement. For example, our use of rigorous winter testing ensured system reliability in Utah’s challenging climate while stakeholder workshops facilitated public buy-in and knowledge sharing.
The result is a flexible, scalable tolling platform ready to support future mobility innovations and policy shifts, including RUC and integrated congestion management.
Delivering results and building for the future
Our phased approach to deployment has already demonstrated multiple benefits, such as significant reductions in occupancy violations and improved revenue capture. The integration of mobile technology and cloud-based back-office systems has also helped to streamline operations, reduce costs and enhance data-driven decision-making for UDOT.
Our leadership in vendor selection, technology integration, and stakeholder engagement has been critical to project success. Our focus on data privacy, public involvement and adaptability ensures that Utah’s tolling system remains responsive to evolving transportation needs as UDOT continues to expand its managed lanes and explore new pricing models.
A model for tolling nationwide
Utah’s Express Lanes tolling modernization sets a new standard for public agency innovation in transportation. By embracing vision-based tolling, dynamic pricing, and customer-centric engagement, UDOT is delivering a system that maximizes value for both the agency and road users.
As other states look to modernize their tolling infrastructure, our partnership with UDOT offers a blueprint for integrating advanced technology, flexible business models, and robust public engagement to achieve operational excellence and sustainable revenue growth.