From bulky to brilliant: The transformation of roadside tolling

Modern tolling is undergoing a quiet revolution. What was once defined by large gantries, heavy infrastructure and long deployment timelines is giving way to smarter, smaller and more agile systems. Today’s roadside tolling solutions are lighter on the landscape and faster to implement — but still deliver the accuracy and performance agencies need to support a growing network of cashless, all-electronic tolling locations.

As urban density increases, budgets tighten and sustainability goals expand, tolling authorities are rethinking how and where tolling happens. It’s driving a new era of compact, intelligent and cloud-connected roadside tolling that’s more robust without taking up more space.

Why smaller is smarter for modern tolling solutions

Traditional tolling infrastructure, with its towering gantries and underground cabling, requires space, time and costs that are increasingly prohibitive — especially in urban corridors, environmentally sensitive zones or low-volume roadways. The associated large-scale construction creates disruption, delays and budget strains. New pole-mounted tolling systems from companies like Conduent are changing that.

Eliminating the need for gantries, trenching and roadside cabinets, Conduent’s modular pole-mounted tolling units support smarter deployment in more locations and at lower capital cost. These compact systems make tolling feasible in places where traditional setups simply wouldn’t work.

Unlike legacy infrastructure, modern tolling hardware like this can be installed in days rather than months. Solar power and cellular connectivity remove the need for underground wiring and the streamlined footprint minimizes roadside disruption. That flexibility gives agencies a practical path to expand tolling — even in areas where infrastructure or budget constraints once made it impossible.

More accuracy, less hardware

A smaller footprint doesn’t mean lower performance. High-resolution cameras, AI-driven vehicle classification and real-time at-the-roadside processing allow compact tolling units to deliver the precision previously reserved for far more complex systems.

Conduent’s roadside tolling solutions use AI-powered classifiers and high-res imaging to ensure accurate license plate recognition and vehicle identification ­— even in poor lighting or inclement weather.

With edge computing capabilities built in, these systems can handle tolling decisions and license plate recognition in real time. That’s critical for reducing missed reads and improving compliance in all-electronic tolling systems.

Instead of relying on physical roadside data racks, Conduent’s systems push toll data to a secure cloud-based back office that manages transaction processing, billing and violation enforcement — reducing hardware requirements and simplifying long-term operations.

With edge computing built in, modular pole-mounted systems like Conduent’s maintain tolling performance in real time — even when connectivity is limited — helping prevent lost tolling data.

Rapid deployment opens new opportunities

Smaller, more agile tolling systems don’t just reduce deployment costs — they also open new possibilities. What used to take months and require trenching, wiring and heavy roadside equipment can now be completed in days using solar-powered, wireless setups.

That agility allows transportation authorities to act more strategically and proactively test potential initiatives such as expanding tolling to rural routes, launching new corridors in growing metro areas or introducing congestion pricing programs. Lightweight, modular units make it feasible to deploy in places where traditional infrastructure would have been cost-prohibitive or logistically unworkable.

An added benefit: Reduced roadside disruption also enhances safety for both installation crews and drivers — especially in high-traffic areas where lane closures or prolonged construction can create risk.

Greener tolling, by design 

Modern tolling isn’t just efficient — it’s better for the environment. Without the need for trenching, heavy construction or large concrete foundations, environmental footprints are drastically reduced. Solar-powered units further cut down on energy use and emissions.

These systems also support cleaner travel by eliminating the stop-and-go traffic common at toll plazas — significantly reducing vehicle emissions. 

Protecting toll revenue through smarter systems

Revenue leakage remains a persistent challenge for many tolling agencies. Inaccurate license plate reads, missed billing opportunities and outdated back-office processes can steadily drain resources over time.

Cloud-based tolling systems like those offered by Conduent integrate real-time validation, smarter image capture and advanced analytics to help agencies recover more of what they’re owed. Improving accuracy and reducing failed transactions, these tools also streamline enforcement and enhance customer experiences.

As tolling shifts to fully cashless models, the ability to validate transactions in real time and ensure complete, accurate data handling has become essential to protecting long-term toll revenue. Achieving true revenue protection requires both capturing every toll and closing the gaps where revenue leaks through.

The path forward: Tolling that fits today’s demands

Transportation agencies are being asked to do more with less — toll in more places, improve mobility, protect the environment and recover every dollar owed. Modern tolling systems make those goals achievable.

Small-footprint, cloud-connected systems are enabling agencies to deploy smarter, faster and scalable tolling without compromising performance — even in lower-volume corridors or underserved areas. This opens the door to more equitable, usage-based funding models and a more connected network overall.

Conduent’s Roadside Solutions are helping make that possible. Built for flexibility, efficiency and revenue protection, they align with the evolving demands of today’s transportation landscape. Modular roadside collection units and a cloud-native back office enable agencies to roll out all-electronic tolling with fewer disruptions, tighter budgets and greater confidence — from dense metro routes to environmentally sensitive zones. 

Explore how our Transportation Solutions can help you expand tolling with speed, precision and confidence.