Published: July 31, 2008 10:29 pm         

Authority mulls toll system upgrade

Tax-exempt financing holds the key to modernizing the West Virginia Turnpike’s computer-driven toll system, an antiquated network that has servers in need of hard-to-find replacement parts.

Through the tax-exempt process, manager Greg Barr explained Thursday in Beckley, the state Parkways Authority has been purchasing trucks and heavy equipment.

“You get a low interest rate and you can finance it,” he said.

Preliminary figures indicated recently that upgrading the toll system would run anywhere from $1 million to $5 million, depending on exactly what is needed, Barr said.

Purchased in 1999, the original system cost $10 million, and much water has gone over the hard drives since then, he pointed out.

“The software is antiquated,” he said. “We don’t have Internet access and online accounts for customers. Even more important than that, there’s no replacement parts available for the servers. A couple of major servers we have are scavenging for parts in a case a blower, or a motor, goes out, or in case the hard drive crashes. That won’t be a pleasant thing.”

So far, the board has a draft of a contract to design the overhaul, but the authority is awaiting word on whether the tax-exempt status applies to financing the work, Barr pointed out.

Treadles linked to the computer system provide a plethora of data when transactions are made at the toll booths.

“It tracks a class of vehicle, how many axles it has, the weight of the vehicle,” Barr said.

“Cameras take pictures of any violations or errors in the lanes. Then, on top of that, a reader device at the top of the lane with antennas tracks all the transponder usage. Then, the back office system has a tracking software for every transponder in the E-ZPass network in the United States and a file, and for anybody who has a transponder in the country who drives through, it logs their tag number. A computer system determines who issued their tag and who we get our money from at the end of the month when we settle up.”

While no formal decisions can be made until the Parkways Authority meets in its regular session next week, with new member Victor Grigoraci of Charleston succeeding David Dickirson, members of the economic development and tourism, finance and facilities committees took up a number of issues.

Recommended was the purchase of a combo oven for $9,470 at Tamarack from Atlanta Fixtures, the lowest of three bidders. Unable to reach the maximum 500 degrees, the existing one is capable of nothing more than melting cheese.

Members also learned:

A contract is nearing completion with The Greenbrier to maintain food services at Tamarack.

A new line serving the Bluestone plaza should be operational by winter.

Barr intends to meet with Division of Highways personnel on a request by the Paint Creek Watershed, a group seeking to install kiosks at scenic spots along the turnpike. In a related vein, Barr also disclosed he had been offered some leftover “Wild, West Virginia” signs by the DOH that could be erected, provided they meet proper criteria.

Signs are to provide photo-ops for tourists, prompting member Mike Vinciguerra to quip, “Can we charge for having the photos taken?”

Agreed with maintenance director Ron Hamilton’s suggestion that rebuilding a salt storage building at Standard should be performed in-house, although the task cannot be done until next year. The budget has a $400,000 line for the project, but the lowest bid was $570,000.

Discussed the use of inmate help, since the turnpike is only charged $1.50 an hour, much lower than the cost of hiring temporaries. All the authority absorbs is the cost of the officer assigned to guarding them and transportation.

Learned of a request to erect a monument at the Morton travel plaza honoring United Mine Workers President Cecil Roberts, a native of Dawes. A statue on Interstate 79 in Pennsylvania pays tribute to a former UMWA president, Rich Trumka.

— E-mail:

mannix@register-herald.com