The unprecedented initiative, which is open to representatives from government bodies, local/national authorities, public transport/transit agencies, among others, underscores the event’s commitment to fostering collaboration and innovation in the user-financed transportation sector.

REGISTER FREE: Public sector professionals can register their interest in the free-to-attend offer by contacting Kajal Ravalia at kajal.ravalia@akabomedia.co.uk

For more than 20 years, the Road User Charging Conference has remained at the forefront of discussions shaping the future of tolling, road-usage charging (RUC) schemes, and mobility pricing.

With a carefully curated agenda featuring more than 25 international speakers, the event, which takes place at the Steigenberger Wiltcher’s hotel, promises two days of exclusive presentations, interactive panels and invaluable networking opportunities.

John Thornton, chair of the Road User Charging Conference, expressed his enthusiasm for the initiative: “By offering free attendance to public sector professionals, we aim to foster greater participation and collaboration among those driving policy decisions and implementing user-financed transportation schemes globally.

“This conference provides a unique platform to exchange ideas, learn from international best practices and explore innovative solutions to today’s mobility challenges.”

The 2025 agenda boasts a diverse lineup of speakers from around the world, presenting practical case studies and the latest developments in tolling, road-usage charging and mobility pricing.

Among the unmissable sessions already confirmed ahead of the event, Teresa Santos, advisor to Portugal’s secretary of state for mobility, will explore how Portugal’s extensive expertise in highway tolling systems can support urban mobility and international applications. The session will also discuss the country’s ambition to increase public transport share to 20% by 2030.

Heimo Haub, managing director for Europe at Quarterhill, will delve into the challenges and opportunities of transitioning to multi-lane free flow tolling, sharing lessons learned from previous implementations.

Jack Opiola, program manager for mileage-based user fees at the United States Department of Transportation, will provide updates on the US national RUC pilot programme, including insights into testing and the role of a national advisory board.

Kristjan Jarvan, deputy mayor of transport for Tallinn, will highlight the impact of road pricing on heavy goods vehicles and the effectiveness of urban RUC in Estonia.

What’s more, Üsame Ekici, a civil engineer with Türkiye’s Ministry of Transport, will discuss the benefits of transitioning to high-speed tolling systems, including reduced congestion and enhanced traffic flow.

In addition to these compelling sessions, the conference will tackle critical themes such as tolling technologies, sustainability and decarbonisation, data privacy, payment systems, enforcement, and the evolving role of legislation and policy. Discussions will also explore how RUC schemes can support equity, road safety, and climate goals.

Commercial partners announced for the conference so far include Capita, a leading outsourcer, helping UK and European clients across the public and private sectors run complex business processes more efficiently, creating better consumer experiences; Quarterhill, a leading US provider of tolling and enforcement solutions in the ITS industry; and Continental, a global technology company providing solutions for tolling and intelligent transportation systems, including toll payment technologies and advanced connectivity platforms.

“To have confirmed the participation of these world-class businesses is truly a testament to the strength and reach of the Road User Charging Conference brand,” said Thornton.

“When we say the Road User Charging Conference is global this is exactly what we mean. I’m really looking forward to working with Capita, Quarterhill and Continental, as well as all our speakers, to deliver a truly world-class event for the user-financed transportation industry.”