In case you are wondering when Skyway 3 will begin collecting tolls from its users, today, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), together with the Independent Consultant, Tollway Operator and the Project Concessionaire, has conducted a Site Acceptance Test (SAT) of the Electronic Toll Collection System of the elevated highway, to ensure the system’s functionality and readiness, today, 29 March 2021.
According to Julius Corpuz of the TRB, the SAT covers the inventory and maintenance of the TCS equipment, Lane Computer System protocols, and Plaza Computer System protocols, in which different test case scenarios are tested, including the processing of exempted vehicle and towed vehicle, as well as the processing of low balance and invalid RFID transaction, among others.
During the inspection, TRB’s newly-appointed Executive Director, Atty. Alvin A. Carullo, explained the essence of conducting the Site Acceptance Test for the Electronic Toll Collection. “Mahalaga po ang tinatawag na SAT dahil para po masiguro namin na tatakbo ang ating Electronic Toll Collection System ng maayos, mabilis, matiwasay at ligtas para sa ating lahat, specially sa mga toll road users,” ED Carullo said.
He added, “Ibig sabihin po, dapat tama po ‘yung mga toll rate, tapos po dapat mabilis ang pagbasa sa RFID tag kasi importante ito para maiwasan po ‘yung paghaba ng pila sa mga toll plaza at tsaka ang pagkumpul-kumpol ng mga sasakyan.”
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The 18.83 kilometers elevated expressway from Buendia, Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City serves a vital role on decongesting traffic in Metro Manila, especially along EDSA, CP Garcia (C5), and other major roads in Metro Manila (i.e. Quezon Ave., Araneta Ave., Nagtahan and Quirino Ave.). Through the Skyway Stage 3, travel time from Buendia to Balintawak has been reduced from 2 hours to approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
As part of the government’s commitment to develop and improve the urban transportation system in the country, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the TRB, continues to develop ways to enhance and make public transportation more efficient, reliable, and technology-driven, through cashless payments and a better toll collection system.
Corpuz, however did not say when actual toll collection will happen because today’s event is only the start of a multi-step process to gauge the effectivity of the Skyway 3 system.
