Lack of RFID balance causing traffic – SMC

The operator of the Skyway System and NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) is asking motorists to load up their RFID accounts to avoid causing delays in the toll gates that add up to traffic congestion.

In a statement, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Infrastructure said it observed that the traffic situations in Skyway and NAIAx are worsened by motorists who keep an inadequate or zero RFID balance.

Insufficient RFID funds affected a total of 31,712 transactions in Skyway and NAIAx between May 1 and 7, accounting for 15 percent of the total during the period.

SMC Infrastructure said these tens of thousands of motorists with low RFID balance delayed the passage of other travelers in Skyway and NAIAx. As such, the company asked them to maintain sufficient RFID load for ease of entry in toll plazas.

Likewise, SMC Infrastructure wants enforcement measures to be tightened to compel motorists to comply. Right now, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) instructs toll operators to defer penalties for motorists with insufficient RFID balance.

Further, they are barred from imposing fines even on motorists who have yet to shift to cashless accounts and insist on paying cash.

SMC Infrastructure has registered an adoption rate of 97 percent for its electronic toll collection, but laments that the remaining cash payers continue to contribute to traffic congestion.

The company listed other factors that aggravate the traffic condition, such as the limited carrying capacity of tollways and vehicle surge on rush hours.

SMC Infrastructure manages the RFID system called Autosweep that enables motorists to breeze through toll plazas without having to line up in the cash lanes. The operator said Autosweep has a read rate of 99 percent if stickers are placed properly on the vehicle.

In times of extreme traffic, SMC Infrastructure raises toll barriers when vehicle queues reach 500 meters. This allows for a free flow of traffic while the company lists transactions for subsequent billing.

As mandated, Autosweep should be interoperable with its Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) counterpart Easytrip by July to allow motorists to use their RFID accounts wherever.

Under the current system, motorists have to register with Autosweep to travel SMC tollways and with Easytrip to pass through MPTC expressways.