Tolling

Tolling is the practice of collecting fees from users of a road, bridge, tunnel, or other transport facility to recover the costs of construction, operation, and maintenance, and often to influence travel behavior or manage congestion. Toll revenue is used to finance capital projects, support ongoing maintenance, and fund related transportation programs. Tolling is employed worldwide on highways, approaches to crossings, and in some cases for ferries or border facilities.

Fees are collected through toll plazas with staffed booths or cash lanes, or automatically via electronic toll collection (ETC) using transponders, license-plate recognition, or apps. Open-road tolling allows highway speeds without stopping. Some models charge by distance; others use time-of-day or congestion pricing to modulate demand.

Administration is usually a government agency or public-private concession. Exemptions or discounts may apply for local residents, emergency services, or low-income users. Revenues fund debt service, maintenance, safety, and future projects. Toll programs are governed by regulation and privacy and equity considerations.

Technology and enforcement include tags or plates, data security, and penalties for nonpayment. Interoperability efforts enable cross-border use of transponders in some regions. Critics cite inequities between frequent and infrequent users and the high cost of toll systems.

History: tolls appear on ancient and medieval routes; modern toll roads expanded in the 19th and 20th centuries, with electronic tolling beginning in the late 20th century. Notable examples include electronic networks and urban congestion pricing programs in some cities.