Author: shackadmin

If you’re having trouble understanding why you keep receiving Pay-By-Plate invoices and your account is frequently going into the negative, these articles will help you stay ahead and enjoy the benefits of a well-managed toll account. They provide clear guidance on resolving common issues, understanding account activity, and ensuring your toll balance remains in check. Agent: Thank you for calling [Toll Expressway Authority]. My name is Alex. How can I assist you today? Customer: Hi, Alex. My name’s Lisa. I’m calling because I noticed my account has a negative balance, and I want to take care of it before it gets worse. I actually tried to pay online, but I kept having trouble with your website. Agent: Oh no, I’m sorry to hear that, Lisa. Let me help you with your payment and see if we can get this resolved without any more issues. Could I have your account number or license plate number to look up your information? Customer: Sure, my account number is 123456. Agent: Thank you. Give me a moment to pull up your account… [brief pause] Alright, I see your account here. It looks like you have a negative balance of $15.25. Customer: Yes, I know. I was trying to take care of it last night, but every time I tried to pay online, the page kept freezing or kicking me out. It was really frustrating. Agent: I’m so sorry you had to deal with that. We’ve had some reports of intermittent network issues, and our IT team is working on a fix. In the meantime, I can take care of the payment over the phone for you if that’s okay. Customer: That would be great. I just want to get this sorted out. Agent: Absolutely. Will you be using a credit or debit card for this payment? Customer: Debit card. Agent: Alright, whenever you’re ready, please provide me with the card number, expiration date. Customer: [Provides card information] Agent: Thank you, the payment of $15.25 will bring you to a zero balance, would you like to add funds to your account with the payment? Customer: Yes please, add an additional $20.00 Agent: ok Lisa. I’ll go ahead and process the payment now… [brief pause] The payment of $35.25 has gone through successfully, and your account balance is now back to zero. Customer: Thanks, Alex. I just hope I don’t have to deal with that website issue again. Agent: I completely understand. I’ll make a note of your feedback to pass along to our web support team, so they know customers are experiencing these issues. I also recommend setting up auto-replenishment to avoid any future negative balances, even if the website is down. Customer: How does that work? Agent: Auto-replenishment automatically adds funds to your account whenever your balance drops below a certain amount. Would you like me to set that up for you now? Customer: Yes, please. Let’s set the threshold at $15 and replenishment amount to $20.00 Agent: Got it. I’ve set the auto-replenishment to trigger at $15 and replenishment amount to $20.00. so with the balance of $35.25 when you account balance $15 the system will pull $20.00 from the card on file, ok..? Customer: Ok, Thank you Agent: You’re all set, and you’ll receive a notification each time it adds funds. Customer: Thank you, Alex. I really appreciate it—and please do pass along that feedback about the website. Agent: Of course, Lisa. Thank you for letting us know. If you have any other questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Have a great day! Customer: You too. Thanks again!

Toll roads, as a concept, were not created by a single person or entity. Instead, they evolved over time in different parts of the world to address the need for infrastructure funding and maintenance. Here’s a historical breakdown: Ancient Civilizations – Mesopotamia and Babylon (circa 3000 BC): – Early examples of tolls were implemented in Mesopotamian societies, where merchants and travelers paid fees to use certain roads or bridges. – Ancient Rome (312 BC): – The Roman Empire built extensive road networks to connect its vast territories. While the roads were typically funded by the state, tolls were occasionally charged on certain private roads or bridges. – China (Song Dynasty, 10th-13th Century): – Toll collection systems were used to fund the maintenance of trade routes, particularly along the Silk Road. Medieval Europe – Feudal Lords: – During the medieval period, local feudal lords or monarchs often controlled roads and bridges. They charged travelers tolls, known as “pontage,” to cross bridges or use specific routes. – Turnpike Trusts (17th-18th Century): – In England, private companies called Turnpike Trusts were granted authority by Parliament to build and maintain roads. They financed these efforts by charging tolls. The first turnpike trust was established in 1663 on a road between Wadesmill, Hertfordshire, and Stilton, Cambridgeshire. Early United States – Private Turnpikes (18th-19th Century): – In the U.S., toll roads were first built by private companies in the late 1700s to connect growing towns and facilitate trade. One of the earliest was the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike (1792), built by the Lancaster Turnpike Company, considered the first major U.S. toll road. – Government Involvement: – By the mid-20th century, states and the federal government began building major toll roads, such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike (1940) and the New York State Thruway (1954), to meet the needs of a growing population. Modern Developers – Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): – In recent decades, toll roads have often been developed through collaborations between governments and private entities. Private companies design, build, and operate toll roads under contracts or concessions, recovering their investment through toll revenues. Key Innovations in Toll Roads – Electronic Toll Collection (ETC): – Modern tolling systems, such as E-ZPass, were developed to improve efficiency. These systems were pioneered in the late 20th century, with Norway introducing the first automated toll collection system in 1986. Summary Toll roads emerged as a practical solution to fund infrastructure and have been shaped by the economic, social, and technological developments of each era. While no single person “created” toll roads, they have been utilized and adapted by various governments, private enterprises, and civilizations throughout history.

Toll roads were created as a means to fund the construction, maintenance, and operation of transportation infrastructure without relying solely on public tax revenues. Here’s a detailed explanation of the key reasons: Infrastructure Financing – Initial Costs: Building roads, bridges, and tunnels requires significant investment. Tolling allows governments or private entities to raise funds directly from users rather than waiting for tax revenues or issuing bonds. – Public-Private Partnerships: In some cases, private companies fund and build toll roads, recovering their costs through toll collection over a specified period. User-Pays Principle – Fairness: Tolls operate on the principle that those who use a road should pay for it, rather than taxing all residents regardless of their use of the facility. – Efficient Allocation: Tolls ensure that only those who directly benefit from the road contribute to its costs. Reduced Tax Burden – Tolling allows governments to build infrastructure without raising taxes, making it politically and economically viable to undertake large projects. Improved Quality and Maintenance – Toll revenues are often used to maintain and improve roads, ensuring high-quality infrastructure without relying on fluctuating government budgets. Traffic Management – Toll roads can act as congestion pricing tools, encouraging carpooling, public transit use, or alternate routes during peak times to reduce traffic. Economic Development – Tolls enable faster construction of roads, which can stimulate economic activity by improving connectivity and reducing transportation costs. Historical Context – Ancient Times: Toll roads date back thousands of years. Ancient civilizations, including the Romans and Chinese, collected fees for the use of bridges and roads to fund their upkeep. – Medieval Era: In Europe, tolls were collected at gates or bridges to maintain trade routes and local infrastructure. – Modern Era: In the United States, toll roads became popular in the 18th and 19th centuries as private turnpikes, particularly to connect cities and rural areas. By the 20th century, governments began using tolling to fund large-scale highway projects like the New York State Thruway and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Evolution of Toll Roads Today, many toll roads use electronic systems like E-ZPass or Open Road Tolling to improve efficiency, reduce congestion, and enhance the driving experience. While they remain a critical funding mechanism, debates continue over when and if tolls should be removed after the initial costs are recouped.