--- John M O'Neal <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote something about "electronic patches" that would be used for pricing the use of highways and roads.
The Germans are now in the process of deploying a system for trucks that uses GPS (Global Positioning System) technology to charge trucks for use of highways there without the need for toll booths. If cars were required to be equipped with GPS systems linked via satellite to a computer system, charges could be calculated and users billed to a credit card based upon when and where they drove without the need to embed anything in the roadway. At some point the GPS system could also be used to space drivers properly and otherwise regulate traffic flows to optimize the use of highway capacity. American railroads are already experimenting with GPS systems to regulate traffic flow on their systems. Charlie Swope St. Paul _______________________________________________ Twin Cities Metropolitan Issues Forum http://www.e-democracy.org/tcmetro Rules: Sign posts with real name. You may not post more than twice a day.
