ETC development of Japan aims to ensure: (1) 'safe and smooth traffic' through enhancement of traffic volume at tollgate sections; (2) 'universal acceptance' which allows the use to extend nationwide; and (3) 'watertight toll collection' according to the repayment plan. The Ministry of Construction has been studying ETC requirements through collaboration with four major public corporations (Japan Highway Public Corporation, Metropolitan Expressway Public Corporation, Hanshin Expressway Public Corporation and Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority) since 1994. The five-year New Road Improvement and Management Program (NRIMP) ranging from 1998 describes placement of ETC at about 730 tollgates of the total 1300 thereabouts across the nation, where high cost efficiency is promising. ETC systems have been introduced already in many other countries, however this will be an unprecedented attempt to introduce large scale ETC systems in a short term. The system introduction provides multiple entities with an opportunity to make open bids, requiring universal systems throughout the country. The development effort of technical standards and an introduction plan is underway in parallel with the system development to introduce systems smoothly. This paper discusses the ETC system introduction plan and technical standards draft to facilitate ETC introduction. (A*)
Samenvatting