The mileage-based user fee study will ensure that the voices and specific driving patterns of citizens along the East Coast are included in the national discussion on how to establish a sustainable and equitable transportation funding approach for the future.
SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB) August 07, 2018
Azuga, the leading global provider of connected vehicle and fleet technologies, announced that it has been selected by the I-95 Corridor Coalition as the mileage-based user fee (MBUF) technology provider for the first-of-its-kind study to take place on the East Coast. The pilot study, led by the I-95 Corridor Coalition in partnership with Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT) and other regional stakeholders, is designed to research the feasibility of mileage-based user fees to replace the current fuel tax for transportation and infrastructure funding in a multi-state environment that includes a number of significant toll facilities.
Driven by vehicle’s improved fuel efficiency, fuel tax revenues are expected to decline significantly in the future, which is prompting many states to explore alternative sources to fund road repairs and improvements. As the first pilot to occur on the East Coast, the MBUF study presents the opportunity to observe unique challenges such as multi-state travel and toll interoperability. Utilizing mileage data collected by technology from Azuga, the Coalition aims to gain better understanding of how a mileage-based user fee could work throughout the region.
“It’s not unusual for I-95 drivers to pass through two, three or even four states in just one day, which is just one of the unique driving characteristics of the region,” said Dr. Patricia Hendren, Executive Director of the I-95 Corridor Coalition. “The mileage-based user fee study will ensure that the voices and specific driving patterns of citizens along the East Coast are included in the national discussion on how to establish a sustainable and equitable transportation funding approach for the future.”
Azuga’s easy-to-use connected vehicle technology not only provides a means to accurately capture miles driven but also offers functions like subtracting fuel taxes paid at the pump, then, on the state’s behalf, automatically invoicing for the net MBUF, though no actual funds have been transferred as part of the pilot. Additionally, the study is utilizing Azuga’s geofencing technology to pinpoint exactly when vehicles pass through Delaware’s toll points as an initial proof of concept, which will then appear on drivers’ monthly invoices. The company’s end-to-end MBUF solution also provides value-added services to keep drivers engaged, such as Parked Car Locator, Trip Logging, Battery Health and the Check Engine Light Decoder.
“Azuga’s telematics technology is seamless, effortless and accurate as it collects mileage data in real time and provides all back-office functions needed to translate mileage into simple, easy-to-understand road usage charge invoices,” said Nate Bryer, Vice President of Innovation at Azuga. “We’ve been involved in MBUF pilots, known more commonly on the West Coast as Road Usage Charging (RUC), in Oregon, Washington, California and Colorado, and we are excited to be a part of this first-of-its kind study and look forward to assisting the Coalition in its review of a reliable revenue source for future infrastructure investments.”
Results from the first phase of the mileage-based user fee pilot study will be published in late 2018. The second phase of the study will start in late 2018, which will include a multi-state truck pilot to assess compatibility between commercial vehicle reporting requirements and mileage-based user fees. As phases are completed, researchers will gather and evaluate participant feedback and vehicle data to better understand the challenges and opportunities presented by a per-mile user fee in regions where multi-state travel and tolling are common.
Learn more about Azuga’s government telematics solutions by visiting https://www.azuga.com/products/government-telematics/. To stay updated on I-95 Corridor Coalition Mileage-Based Usage Fee study, visit https://www.i95coalitionmbuf.org/.
About Azuga
Azuga is a leading global connected vehicle platform, helping our customers turn data from vehicles and their use into intelligence that improves operations and safety while reducing cost and risk. Azuga provides reliable end-to-end solutions for commercial fleets, government agencies, insurance companies and automotive industry suppliers, through leading hardware technology, the Azuga One platform, award-winning fleet applications and data analytics.
Our award-winning Azuga Fleet solution is used by thousands of businesses—from the small fleet of a few vehicles up to several thousand—and is lauded by our customers for its ease-of-use, robust features and affordable pricing. For more information, visit https://www.azuga.com and follow us on Twitter @Azuga_GPS.
About the I-95 Corridor Coalition
The I-95 Corridor Coalition is a partnership of transportation agencies, toll authorities, public safety, and related organizations, from the State of Maine to the State of Florida, with affiliate members in Canada. The Coalition provides a forum for key decision makers to address transportation management and operations issues of common interest. This volunteer, consensus-driven organization enables its myriad state, local and regional member agencies to work together to improve transportation system performance far more than they could working individually. The Coalition has successfully served as a model for multi-state/jurisdictional interagency cooperation and coordination for over two decades.