| Kathy Liebler
Director of Public Information
|
C O M M I S S
I O N N
E W S R
E L E A S E
Contact: Kathy Liebler 717-939-9551 Ext. 2850 September 17, 1996
TURNPIKE COMMISSION REVIEWS TECHNOLOGY PROJECTS/
ENDS NEGOTIATION FOR FIBER OPTICS NETWORK
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today announced a major
review of its overall technology program including its microwave
and fiber optics projects that will provide the foundation of a
new toll collection system and several other communications and
information services.
Commissioner James F. Malone said the Commission was taking
the action to provide ample opportunity for its new Deputy
Executive Director (DED) for Information Technology to
revaluate and reassess the programs and projects.
Robert L. Brown, hired in late June, is responsible for the
deployment of new technology such as EZ Pass or electronic toll
collection, Data Over Video and other technologies that will
carry the Pennsylvania Turnpike into the 21st Century.
Malone said, that as a result of the project review, the
Commission will end its negotiations with Armstrong Fiber Optics
Network (AFON), which began about two years ago. In October
1994, the Commission authorized contract negotiations with AFON
for the design, construction and installation of a fiber optics
network on the 506 mile Turnpike system.
Brown said, "My job is to centralize projects and
responsibilities and develop a master plan for all our technology
initiatives, aligning them with the Commission's Strategic
Business Plan. To do that, we must step back and take a long
hard look at our current projects and what steps we must take to
prepare for the future. Our planning process needs to be based
on a logical and phased in approach that will allow us to
accomplish our goals for the short term and the long term."
Other projects under review include the Toll Road
Information Management System (TRIMS) which is a maintenance
inventory system and the Turnpike's Geographic Information System
(GIS) which is used to locate and identify geography along the
Turnpike system for engineering and planning, real estate
management, maintenance and environmental projects.
"As a member of a customer service organization such as the
Pennsylvania Turnpike, I have an obligation to the Commission and
our customers, to assure that the implementation of new
technologies is accomplished in the most efficient and cost
effective manner," he said.
Brown came to the Turnpike from the Black and Decker World
Headquarters located in Towson, MD., where he served as worldwide
manager for strategic planning and systems development. He also
held positions in information technology with Martin Marietta and
TRW Corporation.
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P.O. Box 67676, Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676 Phone: (717) 939-9551 Fax: (717) 986-9649