The U.K. Department of Transport’s Highways England said May 17 it awarded the first of its multi-package contracts for its second-generation free-flow charging service to Paramus-based Conduent, who will primarily operate the existing Dartford-Thurrock Crossing of the River Thames free-flow charging scheme, Dart Charge.
The value of the contract is approximately $178 million over 10 and a half years. Conduent’s contract is for road user charging services and covers the day-to-day operation of the free-flow charging service, detecting and matching vehicle and customer records, managing accounts and processing payments.
Conduent Transportation is currently the industry leader in automated or electronic tolling across the United States, hosting some of the largest electronic road usage charging systems and customer service centers in the world. It also currently provides curbside management services in the U.K., as well as public transit fare collection and validation systems for operators in France, Belgium, Italy and other European nations.
“This award demonstrates our commitment to our global strategy for growth while continuing to provide effective, end-to-end solutions for our clients,” said Mark Brewer, group president, Transportation Solutions at Conduent. “Building on our strong U.K. and European presence and capabilities, we are dedicated to delivering a successful program for Highways England and its customers.”
Following an 18-month deployment period, Conduent will provide improved customer self-service capabilities, state-of-the art roadside equipment and the latest generation of license plate recognition technology. Enhanced self-service options will improve the customer experience by facilitating payments for pre-paid and pay-as-you-go customers.
