July 30, 2007 - - They like it! Hundreds of International Bridge customers have signed up for the new I.Q. Prox Card during its inaugural offering, the week of July 23. Bridge officials are pleased that 227 customers have upgraded to the new system, which was installed to decrease time spent at the International Bridge toll booths.
A customer used a Prox Card to automatically pay the toll for the first time on the International Bridge at 6:10 a.m. today, shortly after the system became operational.
"As we anticipated, our frequent crossers are taking advantage of the upgrade to the I.Q. Prox Card," said Phil Becker, general manager of the International Bridge Administration (IBA). "Frequent users are more than half of our customer base, so this added convenience benefits a significant portion of our clientele."
The new Prox Card has been available for sale since July 23 for a one-time fee of $5 (U.S.) or $6.25 (Canadian) per card, which covers the IBA's cost of the cards. The price of the card is based on the IBA cost for the cards from the U.S. and Canadian card vendors when purchased last spring, said Becker. The Canadian currency Prox Card can be purchased with Canadian or U.S. funds.
Secure I.D. of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, donated the Prox Card upgrade fee for the first 20 customers to make the switch.
Customers' account information remains the same through the card swap, with all pre-paid trips transferring to the new cards. In the event a card is lost or stolen, the IBA can close the account and transfer any remaining balance to a new card.
Customers pass the new card within six inches of a card reader device installed in the two dedicated automated lanes: the northbound and southbound outside lanes. The toll is automatically deducted from their account, a gate rises, and drivers are on their way.
The staffed booths also will accept Prox Cards, but these will be processed by a toll attendant, similar to the regular I.Q. Card. IBA staff reminds customers without Prox Cards to note the signs designating the lanes dedicated exclusively to Prox Card use.
No toll attendants will lose their jobs due to the automated lanes. Toll staff will be utilized for traffic management and bridge security monitoring activities.
Prox Cards are available for purchase at the Toll Administration Building sales office, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. For operational reasons, the IBA asks that people visit the sales office when they are U.S.-bound, and not when they are Canada-bound. Deposit procedures remain the same as with the standard I.Q. card, with customers asked to purchase additional trips at a staffed toll booth.
Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge: Bridging Our Past, Connecting Our Future
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