NORITS - Nordic Interoperable Tolling Systems

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1 NORITS - Nordic Interoperable Tolling Systems Jacob Trondsen MSc Eng. Senior Adviser Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) 0033 Oslo, Norway Tel (direct line): / Jacob.trondsen@vegvesen.no ABSTRACT Easy-Go is a service offered to all users of toll collection systems in the Scandinavian countries. The service makes it possible for any user to pay the toll fee of any toll collection system in this area with the on-board unit issued from the local issuer / toll operator. Easy-Go includes toll operators and some ferry companies. Other types of transport providers like parking companies will join later. The NORITS project, that has defined and implemented the Easy-Go service, is a joint initiative between road authorities and toll road operators in the Scandinavian countries. A study carried out during the first half of 2004, confirmed the need for Nordic interoperable toll collection systems and the feasibility of the project, in line with the EFC-directive 2004/52. The NORITS project organisation was established during the summer of After a year of design and development, procurement, extensive tests and implementation have been carried out. The opening of Easy-Go service provided via the NORITS project took place in March, NORDIC EFC HISTORY The Nordic Electronic Fee Collection (EFC) history starts 20 years ago. The first EFC system in the world was installed at a tolled tunnel project at the west-coast of Norway. Some years later we got the world first toll rings in the cities of Oslo and Trondheim in Norway. The first Danish and Swedish EFC systems came in operation at the end of the 19 s. In the same period the Norwegian EFC systems changed to the AutoPASS EFC system building on the DSRC technology and EFC application standardised by the CEN TC 278 Road Transport and Traffic Telematics. A new generation of EFC was introduced in Norway in 2004 as we got two toll rings with fully automated charging points. In 2006 we got the trial in Stockholm and now, in 2007, we have introduced interoperable EFC in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. The EFC systems in Sweden, Denmark and Norway cover the whole range of size, number of users and tariffing principles. Some examples are: The Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden The Svinesund Bridge between Sweden and Norway 1

2 Fully automated charging points (toll stations) in Norway based on DSRC and digital pictures (non-equipped users) for the toll charging The Great Belt Bridge in Denmark connecting the eastern and western parts of Denmark together THE NORITS PROJECT The NORITS project was initiated by the Nordic Road and Transport Authorities as well as some of main EFC operators. There was a feasibility study in early 2004 and as the study concluded with that there was a need for Nordic EFC interoperability the project NORITS was formally launched in The following four main partners signed an agreement to carry through the NORITS project: Norwegian Public Roads Administration (NPRA) Swedish National Roads Administration (SNRA) Sund & Bælt Holding AS (S&B) Øresundsbrokonsortiet (ØK) There was also a link between the NORITS project and ASECAP as Sund & Bælt is a member of ASECAP and the Norwegian tolling umbrella organisation Norvegfinans, being a member of ASECAP, also takes a seat in the NORITS Steering Committee. Hence, there was a close link between the NORITS project and ASECAP already form the start of the project. The project has been active since 2004 with specification work, implementation and testing. In March this year the project achieved its first main goal and an interoperable Nordic EFC toll service was offered to the EFC users of Denmark, Sweden and Norway. THE VISION OF THE NORITS PROJECT The vision of the NORITS project is: One Contract one OBE - one invoice multiple transport services across border The vision is very close to the vision of the EU Commission Directive on interoperable EFC service or European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) as it is now being called. The User is in the focus having one contract, one OBE and one invoice from the Issuer. This enables the User to benefit from several transport services having different EFC operators charging the toll. The transport services implemented so far are tolling of infrastructure like roads, tunnels, bridges and road network in urban areas as well as ferries and parking. In the future one expects other services to join the project. It is also foreseen that IC-cards used for tolling may also be used for Public Transport where the IC-card is just a payment medium like an OBE linked to a central account, - for example a Travel account. 2

3 Satisfied user Transport services Issuer Contract OBE Invoices A NEW NORDIC EFC TOLLING SERVICE A new Nordic EFC tolling service has so far been the main outcome of the NORITS project. The new interoperable EFC service has been called EasyGo. From March 2007 it has been offered in the EFC systems shown on the map. 3

4 THE EASYGO SERVICE The EasyGo service covers the following main issues: Any customer using an OBE issued by a EasyGo issuer can use it to pay at any operator offering the EasyGo service EasyGo will from the start include toll roads, parking and ferries The service is automatically available to all present and new users The development of EasyGo service has been done in accordance with the EU Directive on EFC and coordinated with on-going European Research & Development and standardization work. THE FUNDAMENT FOR THE EASYGO SERVICE The EasyGo service is based on a fundament of experience from many years of EFC operation as well as results from European EFC projects: Agreements, contracts and architecture are based on CESARE II principles EasyGo is developed without changes to legislation in any of the three countries It is possible to establish regional systems that may be integrated later (also in a European context) Local transactions are handled within each region The concept allows a dynamic growth across geographical borders and modes of transport THE EASYGO CONTRACTUAL FRAMEWORK The contractual framework enabling the provision of the EasyGo service is based on a contractual framework NORITS Joint Venture Agreement which again is build on the results from CESARE II. NORITS Issuer Agreement The co-operation and legal relationships between all EFC operators and transport service providers involved is defined in the NORITS Joint Venture Agreement. The cooperation and legal NORITS contract relationship between the group of operators having signed the Joint Venture Agreement and the Issuers is defined in a set of contracts with the different Issuer. This type of contract is called NORITS Issuer Agreement. Between the Issuers and the Users there are NORITS contracts. 4

5 INFORMATION ON EASYGO It is very important to inform all the existing EFC users and the new EFC users about this new service enabling any EFC user in Norway, Denmark and Sweden to benefit from the EasyGo service. A lot of resources have been spent on the EasyGo message to the EFC users and on the media and information channels. Experience from the introduction of the Norwegian interoperable AutoPASS system has been of great value but also experience gained at the international projects at Øresund, Svinesund and Great Belt has provided valuable input. A website for the EasyGo service can be found in the three different languages and there are also brochures distributed to the users via different distribution channels and networks. PRINCIPLES OF FINANCING Financing the daily operation of EasyGo has been one of the crucial issues to be solved in a good way. The CESARE II model has been used to a large extent and has resulted in the following simple principles: All new EFC operators have to pay an Admission Fee All involved EFC operators have to pay an Annual fee Other costs are dealt with by the following principles: All new participants pay their own costs and costs for certification The EFC operators pay an Issuer compensation for issuing services and credit risks 5

6 SOME CHALLENGES The NORITS project has met some challenges during the three last years. The most important ones are: Legal and institutional issues across national borders: Cross border enforcement Invoicing and VAT Currency / exchange rates (three different currencies) Principles of classification in a system based upon black lists (the Norwegian systems are based on Statuslists including the Vehicle class) Introducing the principle one vehicle one OBU in systems where this does not apply today Vehicle classification (various tariffing principles) A common security concept A POSSIBLE WAY FORWARD The experience and results achieved in the NORITS project could be used in defining the European Electronic Toll Service: CESARE III is finalised but much work remains EasyGo complies with the EFC Directive and is co-ordinated with the on-going European harmonisation EasyGo was commercially operational from the March 2007 offering complete interoperability EasyGo could be a pilot installation for the planned European Electronic Toll Service (EETS) The partners in the NORITS project has the knowledge, the experience and the personnel resources to contribute to the work required to establish the EETS (for example CESARE IV etc) SUMMARY Interoperability is being implemented between existing and future payment systems for tolling and other services in Scandinavia. The EasyGo service will include more than 25 operators and users in three countries. The NORITS project have given the participants a unique experience and understanding of the challenges involved We believe the experience and know-how gained from this project and the operation of the system, could be of major benefit in the process of establishing a European Electronic Toll Service 6