Texas transportation groups win award for pioneering automated carpool verification using smartphones
DALLAS - The Association of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (AMPO) has honored the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG), Carma Technology Corporation and five other agencies for implementing the first metro area transition from express lane police enforcement to automated smartphone verification.The Excellence in MPO Coordination and Partnership award, presented at AMPO’s annual conference, recognizes outstanding partnership among MPOs, transit agencies, and state departments of transportation.
Led by NCTCOG and Carma Technology Corporation, the collaboration involves 120 miles of managed lanes in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) region. "This technology has made our lanes fairer and more reliable, ensuring those who carpool genuinely benefit from the discounts they deserve," stated Dan Lamers, Senior Program Manager at NCTCOG. "It's not just about reducing congestion. It's about creating a more equitable and sustainable transportation system for the entire DFW area."
The chosen solution, GoCarma, offers hands-free, fully automated HOV verification. As part of a 10-year agreement initiated in 2020, the app is used by over 75,000 road users in Dallas-Fort Worth to qualify for a 50% HOV toll discount during peak periods.
GoCarma has verified HOV status 6 million times to date, eliminating the need for roadside spot checks. Violation rates have decreased from 40% to less than 2%, thanks to automated fraud detection algorithms.
"This groundbreaking initiative represents a paradigm shift in how we manage and optimize our express lanes," said Lawrence Mulligan, CEO of Carma Technology Corporation. "By leveraging smartphone technology, we've not only dramatically reduced HOV violations but also enhanced safety, improved traffic flow and demonstrated the power of public-private partnerships in solving complex transportation challenges."
The partnership involved coordination between multiple organizations, including NCTCOG, Carma Technology Corporation, TransCore, NTE Mobility Partners, Milligan Partners, the North Texas Tollway Authority and Texas Department of Transportation.
About Carma Technology Corporation: Carma Technology Corporation is an industry leader revolutionizing road pricing and offers the ability to apply flexible road pricing anywhere, anytime. A trusted partner of government agencies for over 15 years, Carma empowers sustainable revenue while dissolving traffic congestion - without costly infrastructure investments.
About the North Central Texas Council of Governments:
NCTCOG is a voluntary association of local governments established in 1966 to assist local governments in planning for common needs, cooperating for mutual benefit and coordinating for sound regional development.
NCTCOG's purpose is to strengthen both the individual and collective power of local governments and to help them recognize regional opportunities, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and make joint decisions. NCTCOG serves a 16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered in the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth. For more information on the Transportation Department, visit www.nctcog.org/trans.
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