Cash-free connections : automating traffic across the Bosphorus.

This article describes OGS, the first electronic toll collection (ETC) system in Turkey. This system, which will be nationwide, has been tested, and will be operational within a few months on three closed highway sections and two bridges. The first highway section connects Izmir to Cesme, a summer resort town. The two bridges are over the Bosphorus strait at Istanbul, and the other two highway sections are on both sides of these bridges. All the sections have heavy daily commuter traffic, and the busiest serves 185,000 vehicles per day. Introduction of ETC will substantially (1) increase toll lane capacity; (2) reduce the need for toll operators; (3) decrease fraud risks; and (4) improve toll collection control and monitoring. The project partners are Aselsan (system integrator), the Turkish Highway Authority (system operator), and the Zirsat Bank of Turkey (toll clearance operator). There are 14 entry lanes and 16 exit lanes on the closed highways, seven open-type lanes on the bridges, 14 toll station centres, four regional centres, and one main centre. The system uses DSRC (dedicated short-range communications). The article includes discussions of interoperability in OGS and lessons to be learned. The comments received in earlier stages enabled re-evaluation of design criteria without causing delays.