States Seek Feedback on Bridge Tolling
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowState officials will hold a hearing later this month to seek public input on the proposed $41.5 million tolling contract for the Ohio River Bridges Project. Virginia-based Kapsch TrafficCom was approved by the Indiana Finance Committee to handle electronic tolling along the bridge. The project was re-bid after the state found the company had an inadvertent conflict of interest with the process. March 17, 2015
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 12, 2014) – The Indiana Finance Authority voted today to move forward with a newly selected bidder to manage and maintain an all-electronic toll-collection system for the Louisville-Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges Project.
The Ohio River Bridges Joint Board voted earlier today to allow the selected proposal — submitted by Virginia-based Kapsch TrafficCom — to move forward with the contract process via Indiana's statutory procedures.
Indiana is leading the procurement on behalf of both states, and a public hearing will take place on March 26 to accept public comment about the selected proposal and contract, and the proposal-evaluation process. The IFA will use the public comment to make its final determination in recommending the preferred tolling operator to receive approval consideration from Governor Mike Pence and review by the Indiana State Budget Committee.
Preferred Bid
Kapsch TrafficCom was selected from among three bidders who participated in the proposal process. A joint evaluation committee, made up of officials from both Indiana and Kentucky, scored the proposals based on the best value.
Kapsch TrafficCom's proposal estimate was $41.5 million, well below the amount independent experts estimate for similar tolling services. The contract, if approved, will cover the cost of a collection system and the cost to manage and operate the tolling system. The length of the contract is seven years, with the option for the states to extend for a single two-year period.
This is the second procurement process implemented for the tolling services after an unrealized conflict of interest was discovered last fall with the original preferred proposal, which was also provided by Kapsch. The IFA, after diligent review of the conflict of interest, determined there was no evidence Kapsch knew of the conflict, which involved a relationship between a consultant to the IFA and a subcontractor on the Kapsch original proposal. The joint board, however, decided to restart the procurement to protect the integrity of the process, and ensure public confidence.
“In resetting the process, and reopening the door to allow bidders to participate afresh, we have ensured both the confidence of Hoosiers and Kentucky taxpayers, and assured them we have the right provider to achieve the end goal of successful management of a tolling collection and compliance system,” said Dan Huge, IFA interim public-finance director.
Public Hearing
The public hearing, as required by statute, will take place on March 26, 2014, at 5 p.m. at the Sheraton Riverside Hotel, Riverside Ballroom, 700 West Riverside Drive in Jeffersonville.
A simulcast will also take place at the University of Louisville Shelby Campus, Founders Union Building, Room 218A, 9001 Shelbyville Road at the same time.
The selected proposal and contract will be posted on the web for public consideration by March 16 at www.in.gov/ifa/2750.htm.
The public may submit advance comments about the proposal, contract and proposal-evaluation process prior to the hearing. Those comments can be sent via email to IFA Project Manager Silvia Perez at sperez@ifa.in.gov, or via mail to One North Capitol, Suite 900, Indianapolis, IN 46204.
All comments must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on March 26 to be considered.
Source: The Indiana Department of Transportation