Indiana and Kentucky transportation officials are releasing recommendations for the vehicle classification system for RiverLink, the new, all-electronic tolling system making the Louisville – Southern Indiana Ohio River Bridges project possible.
Transportation and finance leaders from both states are scheduled to meet May 11 to vote on the recommendations and other measures that make up tolling policy and business rules.
Vehicle Classification
Toll rates will be based on vehicle height and number of axles, which is consistent with the classification system used by the majority of other tolling systems. Initial toll rates range from $2-$12. The lowest rates are for drivers with transponders.
“It’s important to have a system that is clear and easy to understand, meets the financial requirements of the project and works with the capabilities of the tolling system,” said Kentucky Transportation Secretary Greg Thomas. “We believe we’ve achieved that, while keeping in mind our local and area businesses.”
Passenger Vehicles
All 2-axle vehicles up to 7 ½ feet in height Examples: cars, SUVs, pickup trucks, vans, motorcycles
Medium Vehicles
- All 2-axle vehicles more than 7 ½ feet in height
- All 3-axle vehicles
- All 4-axle vehicles
Examples: box trucks, buses, dump trucks, concrete trucks, high-roof vans, most vehicles towing trailers
Large Vehicles
All vehicles with 5 or more axles
Examples: semi-trailer trucks, some large RVs towing a vehicle, vehicles towing 3-axle trailers
“The medium vehicle category is deliberately large,” said Jim Stark, deputy commissioner of innovative project delivery with the Indiana Department of Transportation. “Many of these vehicles are short-haul, regional trucks. They’re delivery and service-based and some are making numerous trips across the bridges on a daily basis.”
Businesses do not qualify for a frequent-user discount, but the more affordable toll rates in the medium vehicle category are designed to assist many businesses in the region.
Toll Policy and Business Rules
Transportation and finance leaders from Indiana and Kentucky will vote on several business items May 11 at the Sheraton Hotel Ballroom, located at 700 W. Riverside Dr. in Jeffersonville.
The Joint Board consists of the Kentucky Public Transportation Infrastructure Authority (KPTIA) Chairman, the Indiana Public Finance Director, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Secretary and the Indiana
Department of Transportation Commissioner, or their designees. The Joint Board meeting will begin at 2 p.m.
The bi-state Tolling Body is responsible for setting toll rates and establishing toll policy. It includes the four Joint Board members and an appointed member from each state. The Tolling Body will meet at 2:30 p.m. to vote on tolling policy and business rules that will govern the operation of the new tolling system.
Business rules include everything from initial toll rates and account management to the invoice process and nonpayment fees. Most of the information has been shared previously during a series of a dozen open houses held this year in Kentucky and Indiana.
Start of Tolling
Tolling will begin when cross-river capacity is added to the system. That means either the improved John F. Kennedy Memorial Bridge or the new East End bridge will be complete and fully open to traffic. Both are expected to happen late this year. Transponders will be available and customer service centers are expected to open by late summer.
The new Abraham Lincoln Bridge, the improved Kennedy Bridge and the new East End bridge will be tolled. The Sherman Minton Bridge and the Clark Memorial Bridge will not be tolled.