NTTA Board Approves Transition to All-Electronic-Toll-Collection
 On August 15, the NTTA Board of Directors voted unanimously to direct its staff to begin the process of converting all NTTA toll roads into all-electronic-toll-collection (ETC) facilities. The implementation would be completed by May 2010. Future NTTA turnpike projects would be planned as all-ETC facilities. The decision was made during the Board’s monthly meeting in Plano.
The NTTA Board directed staff to begin studying the possibility of all-ETC in April of this year. A follow-up report was presented to the Board in July. The study documented trends in the toll industry, engineering and construction issues, safety implications, environmental concerns, customer time savings, as well as operational and financial impacts that the NTTA would need to deal with in preparing to become an all-ETC system.
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New NTTA Toll Rates Go Into Effect in Late September
 To offset inflation costs and to maintain, repair and expand its current system, the North Texas Tollway Authority (NTTA) is increasing the tolls on the Dallas North Tollway and the President George Bush Turnpike, effective at 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 28, 2007. The NTTA Board of Directors approved this increase in November of 2006 as part of a new tolling policy.
For TollTag customers, the rate is going up a dime at main lane plazas. For cash customers, the increase will be a quarter at main lane plazas. TollTag customers who currently pay 60 cents at the main toll plazas will pay 70 cents. Cash customers who currently pay 75 cents will pay $1. Ramp prices will vary. A complete list of toll rates is available on the NTTA Web site, www.ntta.org.
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South End of the Tollway to Be Closed Part of Aug. 25 Weekend
 NTTA has scheduled the fourth closure for the south end of the Tollway the weekend of Aug. 25. During this closure, NTTA crews will be hanging new bridge beams for the Cedar Springs Road Bridge and switching traffic onto the new concrete paving northbound from Maple to Wycliff Ave. After this closure, it is only a matter of time before the Cedar Springs Road Bridge will be fully complete with two lanes in each direction.
On the night of Saturday, Aug. 25, starting at 11:59 p.m. until Monday, Aug. 27, at 5:00 a.m. the south end of the Tollway will be closed for 29 hours northbound from IH-35E to Mockingbird Ave and southbound from Northwest Highway to the southern end of the Tollway. The Cedar Springs Road Bridge will be closed as well.
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Tollway Extension to Open in Late September
 The words “Under Construction” will soon be a thing of the past when the newest portion of the Dallas North Tollway opens on Friday, Sept. 28. Even though heavy rains in May, June and July slowed the progress, crews are busy working to complete the 9.6-mile extension from just north of U.S. 281 to U.S. 380. The $264-million roadway in Collin County has taken less than three years to complete.
The exact time when the toll road, both northbound and southbound, is to open is not yet known. But, the NTTA won’t be keeping that a secret. Announcements will be sent to news media organizations and information will be posted on the NTTA Web site, www.ntta.org.
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NTTA Closed for Labor Day
 The NTTA Customer Service Center, TollTag office and Administrative offices will be closed on Monday, September 3, 2007 in observance of Labor Day.
All NTTA toll roads and main lane and ramp plazas will be open on the holiday.
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TollTags, Coming to a Place near You
 The availability of TollTags throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area continues to grow as we look for new places to provide convenient locations for sign-ups. Recently added cities where sign up is available at the utility desk include:
City of Lancaster
11 N. Henry Street
Lancaster, TX 75146
972-218-1302
City of Duncanville
203 E. Wheatland Road
Duncanville, TX 75138
972-780-5017
TollTags are readily available at our Customer Service Center at 5900 W. Plano Parkway, Suite 200, the TollTag Store at 12300 Inwood Road, Suite 100, selected Kroger Food Stores, Albertsons Supermarkets, and several local municipalities. To find the outlet nearest you, call the Customer Service Center at 972.818.NTTA (6882) or visit www.ntta.org.
If you are out and about look for the NTTA Tag Wagon, a mobile registration outlet, at special events and festivals in your community.
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The Good Word Travels
 One of our readers, named Sharon, let us know: “I just wanted to compliment you on the outstanding landscaping along the Bush Turnpike. I drive it frequently and SO enjoy the natural grasses and blooming plants. It really makes a difference and I appreciate it.”
Lauren from Dallas and Oregon had some very nice things to say: “Your (eNewsletters) are always interesting and exciting. I read every line of the stories and plans. And I rejoice with your creative onward moving board and staff. How fortunate we are in the Dallas area to have you working to ease our travels and make it fun instead of stressful, even fearful at times. I love driving on the Tollway any time!
A genuine heartfelt thank you for your worthy contribution to all of us drivers in the DFW area.”
Again, thanks for your “good words” and questions. Thank you for taking the time to read Driving Forward and thank you even more for giving us your feedback. We love hearing from you!
Please feel free to send your comments anytime. Our email address is: TalktoNtta@ntta.org
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September is Get A TollTag Month
 Only weeks remain before “Get A Tag Month” – the last month you can sign up for a TollTag before the new rates go into effect. So if you’re currently a TollTag user spread the word and tell a friend to sign up today!
With a TollTag you will have access to even more TollTag lanes with the opening of the newest section of the Dallas North Tollway from SH 121 to U.S. 380 on Friday, September 28.
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Join Mystery Driver and Tell Us Your Driving Experience
 Your experience as an NTTA customer is important to us. You can earn a $25 gift certificate by sharing them with us. If you would like to participate, visit www.mysterydriver.com and click on the “Click Here to Enroll” link.
Each month approximately 25 registered customers will be chosen at random. Selected drivers will log their normal experiences on NTTA roadways and will receive a $25 gift certificate for participating.
Visit www.mysterydriver.com today for details and enroll today!
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New Southbound Frontage Road at north end of Tollway Now Open
Motorists traveling on U.S. 380 and needing to travel south toward Frisco now have new frontage roads to drive on. During construction of the soon-to-open Tollway extension through Frisco, north and southbound drivers have been using a two-way frontage road on the east side of the corridor. Now, northbound drivers will use the frontage road on the east side of the Tollway and southbound motorists will be able to use the new frontage road on the west side of the Tollway from U.S. 380 to just north of Main Street in Frisco. One lane was open on August 5th. A second southbound lane will be open in the near future.
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