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Creating smart, high-quality transport infrastructure produces better connected local communities, helping to deliver more sustainable economic growth and improve a region’s overall quality of life. Resilient highways are one of the ways in which countries are looking to prepare for the future.
As an early adopter of free-flow tolling and providing interoperability between its co-existing tolling systems, Ireland has been at the forefront of the digital transformation of transport across Europe. For the country’s roads and light rail agency, TII (Transport Infrastructure Ireland), making journeys throughout the country as seamless as possible is a priority.
Arup has developed a strong working relationship with TII over the past six years, working together with the agency as a trusted advisor on tolling strategy, including operational, governance and procurement management, as well as on the technical evolution and management of tolling schemes.
Our team of digital consultants, transport planners and IT systems professionals have provided comprehensive advice on a range of aspects covering the operation and development of Dublin’s M50 barrier-free tolling system, the establishment of a new contractual model for the M50 (Tolling as a Service), creating a framework for interoperability at a national level, as well as working to identify opportunities to mitigate risks on a range of emerging issues.
Factors such as sustainability, digital technology, electric vehicles, funding dynamics, mobility patterns and climate change are prompting transport agencies and operators to consider new approaches to road infrastructure delivery and management.
“Our global technical expertise and intimate knowledge of the local operating context has led to us being a 360° advisor to TII working on a variety of key topics to help them to prepare for the future. ”
Pádraig Kenny Director Talk to Pádraig
With the arrival of smart technology, tolling has increasingly become a data-driven business without the need for vast amounts of centralised infrastructure; but while technology drives innovation in processes and operations, it also introduces complexity and risks which need to be managed.
Our consultants have developed governance structures to capture vehicle passage, collect and process payments, manage roadside infrastructure and gantries and process interoperable transactions.
Overseeing the operation of Dublin’s M50 free-flow toll
In Dublin, emovis is the operator of the M50 C-ring orbital highway’s barrier-free tolling system. TII appointed us to implement an Operational Management Services team to ensure that eFlow deliver best-in-class services.
Enforcement management is an important aspect of operating the tolling system. We assist in the strategic planning of enforcement campaigns, including developing campaigns targeting specific customer segments, as well as strategies relating to the pursuit of civil and criminal actions.
Proactive risk management and compliance is another key aspect of ensuring that operations are run securely. Arup has supported the client to enhance tolling governance and regulatory oversight by capturing and closely monitoring risks which are discussed at monthly meetings with TII and emovis.
TII procurement: transitioning to Tolling as a Service operations
With the current contract drawing to an end, Arup also supported the client to launch a competitive dialogue process to procure the next generation tolling operator. Our consultants, working together with TII’s legal and finance teams, managed all the related procurement activities, including industry soundings, information days and communications with interested parties during pre-qualification and tender evaluation.
We have helped TII to translate the Tolling as a Service model, whereby the operator is responsible for the complete end-to-end tolling service, into a tangible set of output-based contract requirements and KPIs.
Arup formed an effective working team with TII, KPMG and McCann FitzGerald Solicitors to deliver a complex procurement process within a tight timescale up to contract award. The efforts of the collective team were recognised at the National Procurement Awards 2019, where we won both the Best Procurement External Collaboration Project of the Year and the Overall Excellence in Procurement Award.
Arup is helping to manage the complex change project from the existing to the new operation, and will oversee the new operator developing the necessary operational procedures for use following the switch-over to the new contract, at the end of the mobilisation and transition phase.
Interoperability – the key to seamless journeys in Ireland
Ensuring that tolling tags work across the different service providers, thus delivering a seamless journey experience for customers, is another aspect where Ireland has paved the way in Europe. Arup helped to establish the contractual framework for interoperability with all of the different operators.
TII procured the Interoperability Management Services Provider (IMSP) as a hub which facilitates the ‘swapping’ of user payments among providers to the correct toll charger. Arup provides ongoing governance and oversight of this interoperability hub and we are currently planning for the next generation of this service.
The future of mobility
As part of our tolling operations support services, we are also advising TII on a broad range of emerging technologies and mobility issues. Increased urbanisation and population growth in cities, climate change and air quality challenges, improving safety, finding more sustainable methods of funding the maintenance of transport infrastructure, and a desire for better integration of transport modes are some of the challenges which transport authorities are addressing.
Arup’s horizon-scanning research and our technical understanding of the design, implementation and maintenance realities of dealing with road infrastructure and sustainability all inform our advisory work.
Arup also developed a governance structure for TII’s tolling business in the form of a portfolio management office. This ensures that all operations within TII are delivered consistently.
