The European GNSS Agency (GSA) supported SkyToll project received recognition at a recent IRF regional conference.

The Slovak Electronic Toll System continues to be recognized for its innovative use of European GNSS technology for road tolling. Recently, SkyToll won the Global Road Achievement Award at the inaugural International Road Federation (IRF) Europe & Central Asia Regional Congress.

The IRF is a US-based non-profit organization that promotes research, development and maintenance of infrastructure. The award recognizes public and private organizations that demonstrate significant achievements in making the most of existing infrastructure to accommodate present and future traffic by using advanced or original traffic management concepts, organizations and/or systems.

“This award confirms that the Slovak Electronic Toll system is setting the standard for satellite-based tolling throughout Europe and ushering in an era where the toll booth becomes a thing of the past,” says Miroslav Bobošík, Head of Strategy and Marketing at SkyToll.

“As a relatively young and small country in Europe, Slovakia is viewed as a pioneer in implementing European GNSS and satellite navigation applications and is serving as an example to other countries looking to develop similar systems,” added GSA Head of Market Development Gian Gherardo Calini.

SkyToll was one of 12 organizations to receive an award at the gala, which was held in Istanbul, Turkey on September 18. The award was presented by IRF President and CEO C. Patrick Sankey.

At 17,741 kilometres, the Slovak Electronic Toll System, which is operated by SkyToll, is the longest tolled roadway systems in the EU. The system was started in 2010 and uses EGNOS and Galileo, together with an installed unit, to track a vehicle’s movements. When the vehicle crosses a specific point, the satellite tracks the movement and the unit in the vehicle records the transaction. As a result, tolling stations and the delays they cause are no longer needed.

    Also Read: Slovak Republic Embraces European GNSS

Because the system is satellite based, SkyToll has successfully increased the number of roadways where tolls are collected. So far, 250,000 vehicles are registered to use the system, but only vehicles over 3.5 tonnes are required to pay the toll.

No investment was required by Slovakia to install the system. SkyToll was awarded a contract to design, build, finance and operate the tolling system. The company makes payments to the government from the money collected.

More Information

Media note: This feature can be republished without charge provided the European GNSS Agency (GSA) is acknowledged as the source at the top or the bottom of the story. You must request permission before you use any of the photographs on the site. If you republish, we would be grateful if you could link back to the GSA website (http://www.gsa.europa.eu).