The system, which went live on March 17 on a segment of the I-64 Hampton Roads Express Lanes, was designed by Conduent Transportation as part of a 2021 contract from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).

Conduent will operate and maintain a completely overhead vehicle classification system, a traffic-responsive dynamic pricing system and an automated license plate recognition system, as well as conduct license plate image reviews for VDOT.

To enable dynamic pricing, VDOT will use data analytics to determine toll rates based on the volume of traffic during different times of the day, in an effort to help reduce overall travel times and enhance predictability and mobility choices for motorists. The lanes remain free for vehicles with two or more occupants using a required E-ZPass Flex transponder.

The I-64 segment in Chesapeake and Norfolk is the first of four segments implemented with the new system. The segments will ultimately become a part of a continuous 45-mile Express Lanes network on the corridor. VDOT also has the option under the contract to implement a vehicle occupancy detection system in the future, which would use camera systems and video analytics to identify the number of occupants in a vehicle.