At present China is to urgently establish Regional Electronic Toll Collection systems (RETC) in the Chinese highway network. The objective of electronic tolling is to improve the traffic capacity of current manual toll stations and to modernize the management of the Chinese highway network. RETC is a computerized-wide-area-network-based Electronic Toll Collection system in the regional highway network. Its scope is not confined to particular roads or concessions, but encompasses all tolled highways within a particular region. Transponders (tags) in vehicles will be inter-operable across the entire region. It will be an integrated system which encourages the coexistence of electronic transaction with cash payment. The combination of ETC and the existing manual toll system will be to satisfy the requirements for higher traffic throughput. The project will also ensure that the RETC lane equipment is compatible with the continuing manual collection of cash tolls. RETC revenue will be conducted by automated bank funds transfer. All toll and management functions will be coordinated among the highway companies. RETC will improve traffic conditions of toll stations and satisfy the modernized demand for management of the Chinese highway network. The challenges faced by the project are not confined to the implementation of electronic tolling. Simultaneously, RETC must face complex traffic conditions and some management problems which have been inherited from the previous management environment. (A*)
Abstract