3 weeks ago
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NLEX Corp., the private operator of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), is investing approximately ₱1.4 billion in technology upgrades to ensure seamless transactions ahead of the reimplementation of cashless toll collection next month.
In a statement, NLEX Corp. said it is upgrading its remaining 127 radio frequency identification (RFID) antennas to high-frequency antennas capable of reading RFID stickers more efficiently.
The company said these new antennas will increase the read range for RFID stickers, detecting up to three vehicles in advance to expedite transactions at the toll lane.
NLEX Corp. said it aims to achieve a 98 percent RFID readability rate, which it described as a “critical requirement” in enhancing overall customer satisfaction.
It also strives to ensure that vehicle detection at toll lanes is within one second for all classes, on top of providing accurate vehicle classification.
Toll concessionaires will start requiring motorists to have an RFID sticker or an electronic toll collection (ETC) device installed on their vehicles beginning March 15.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the agency overseeing the country’s toll roads, is expecting a more efficient flow of traffic once toll lanes are exclusively cashless.
NLEX Corp., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), will also be investing in the installation of automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) cameras on all 315 toll lanes.
Currently, there are only 77 lanes with ALPR cameras.
With this technology, toll lanes can track vehicles passing without RFID tags or with insufficient balance, alongside capturing license plate data from vehicles at barrierless plazas.
A portion of the ₱1.4 billion will also be spent on additional speed cameras to strengthen traffic law enforcement and help mitigate the dangers of speeding.
Other upgrades include the replacement of toll lane computers and the installation of the plaza computer system (PCS) and video enhancement system (VES) servers.
“Over the years, NLEX Corp. has shown its commitment to providing world-class service. By benchmarking its technologies against those used in other countries, we aim to provide greater accessibility and convenience to all motorists,” said NLEX Corp. Office-In-Charge and Chief Finance Officer Maria Theresa Wells.
NLEX Corp. also operates Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and NLEX Connector.
