Per-Mile Charge Research in Oregon Local Road Usage Charge Pilot

July 28, 2021

Yahoo Finance

Yahoo Finance

FREEMONT, Calif., Feb. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Azuga, the leading global provider of connected vehicle and fleet technologies, announced that it has been selected by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) as the Account Management provider for its local-level road usage pricing research project, the OReGO Local Road Usage Charge (RUC) Pilot. Commencing in March 2021, the six-month project will closely examine and validate applications for road usage charging as it relates to designated high-traffic areas during peak times and duration of travel in congested corridors. The study will also test multi-layered road charging applications (e.g. how to assess usage fees on a vehicle driving in a congestion zone that is also within a larger, overlying pricing zone).

Although the Covid-era has seen greatly reduced roadway congestion in heavily populated areas, traffic has already begun to return to previous levels and Oregon, like other states across the country, is looking for solutions. Some experts argue that while many people are still working from home and many others are purchasing personal vehicles to avoid public transportation, now is the time to work towards unclogging roads and bridges. With Azuga’s technology and expertise, ODOT aims to evaluate whether road usage charging models can be effective solutions for congestion pricing. The pilot will consist of three specific use-case scenarios for simulation. Areas to be tested include the central business district, Multnomah County, and high-traffic highways. Drivers will not be charged during this pilot and all motorists have been carefully approved for participation.

The OReGO Local RUC Pilot is the newest of several innovative road usage charge projects to launch in Oregon and begins nearly six years after the start of the state’s inaugural road usage charging program, OReGO. Azuga Insight, Azuga’s road charging product, has been the most popular selection for participants in OReGO since 2015 and is still accepting new participants. In addition to effortless road usage charge management and auto-pay services, Azuga offers free premium features such as engine trouble code help, remote emissions testing, private non-location services, and more.


The original news article was first published here