Driving the Future of Mobility: IBTTA’s 2019 President Takes the Helm and Outlines Vision for Tolling Industry

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 1/14/19

CONTACT: Bill Cramer, Communications Director

[email protected] – 202.210.2962 mobile

Tomlinson Looks to Expand Tolling Industry’s Innovative Role in Helping Tackle Nation’s Transportation Challenges

WASHINGTON, DC – On January 1^st, 2019, Chris Tomlinson, Executive Director for the State Road and Tollway Authority (SRTA), the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA) and Interim Executive Director of the newly created Atlanta-region Transit Link Authority (the ATL), assumed the helm as 2019 President of the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association.  

As IBTTA’s 2019 President, Tomlinson is charged with helping guide the year’s agenda for the tolling industry’s worldwide association with members in more than 20 countries on six continents.  As he assumed his new role, Tomlinson sat down with IBTTA’s Tolling Points blog to outline his vision for the industry and the role he would like to see tolling play in transportation discussions happening throughout the United States and the world. 

Tomlinson’s theme for the year is Driving the Future of Mobility. Tomlinson said, “Driving the Future of Mobility means finding ways to help elevate the association’s members across the globe and expand our role in the greater transportation sector. The tolling industry has a unique viewpoint and a long-track record of innovation helping meet the transportation needs of today, and more importantly, the challenges in front of us to meet the needs of tomorrow.” 

IBTTA can help to define the role its members can and should play in shaping trends such as the confluence of technological advancements including autonomous vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications and addressing the associated challenges. The theme is designed for us to play more of the role of ‘driver’ in addressing these trends, as opposed to the more passive role of ‘passenger’ that merely observes and reacts to these trends.”

You can read the full interview with Tolling Points by clicking here

During the discussion with IBTTA’s Tolling Points blog, Tomlinson outlined what he sees as the top opportunities and challenges facing surface transportation today:

OPPORTUNITIES:
1) Convergence of technological advancements in the areas of connected and autonomous vehicles, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure communications;
2) Resurgence and renewed focus on the role transit will play in meeting our urban mobility needs; and
3) Upcoming federal transportation reauthorization bill.

CHALLENGES:
1) Continued increases in congestion in our urban areas;
2) Lack of adequate funding for transportation infrastructure; and
3) Lack of technological standards in our industry (primarily within the U.S.).

As IBTTA President, Tomlinson said he sees the industry at the forefront of helping solve transportation challenges by embracing new, cutting-edge technologies and solutions. 

To repost Tomlinson’s interview in its entirety, please contact Bill Cramer, Communications Director, IBTTA at [email protected] or at 202-210-2962. 

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The International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) is the worldwide association for the owners and operators of toll facilities and the businesses that serve them. Founded in 1932, IBTTA has members in more than 20 countries on six continents. Through advocacy, thought leadership and education, members are implementing state-of-the-art, innovative user-based transportation financing solutions to address the critical infrastructure challenges of the 21st century. For more information, visit www.ibtta.org or join us on Twitter @IBTTA or #TollRoads.

SRTA operates all toll facilities within Georgia and serves as a transportation funding/financing arm for the state. In addition, SRTA manages “Xpress” – the State’s regional commuter coach transit service which provides service in the metro Atlanta region and administers the Atlanta region’s vanpool program.

GRTA serves as the Governor's voice for strategic direction and approval of metro Atlanta’s federally required overall transportation plan and reviews Developments of Regional Impact to understand their effect on the region’s transportation network.

The ATL provides transit governance, planning and funding oversight for transit projects and operators within the 13-county metro Atlanta region.