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Initiative

Hybrid - Τhe first distance-based tolling system in Greece

Hybrid - Τhe first distance-based tolling system in Greece
SUBMITTED FROM:

OLYMPIA ODOS S.A.

The Olympic Odos is an important national project of strategic importance for the development of the Peloponnese, Western Greece and Epirus. Olympia Odos S.A. was established in 2008 by six construction companies as a special purpose company to implement the Concession Contract of the Elefsina - Corinth - Patras - Patras - Pyrgos - Tsakona Motorway. As Concessionaire of the Project, it is responsible for the design, construction, financing, maintenance and operation of the motorway for a period of 30 years. The companies participating in the joint stock company have extensive experience in the design and implementation of similar large-scale projects, both in Greece and abroad. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)



Objective Action

Revolution in domestic trips by Olympia Odos

 

Target Audience

Internal and external stakeholders

 

Duration

Since 2020


Description

Olympia Odos is a typical example of an innovative company, with a strategic plan that focuses on innovation and the creation of social impact. In December 2020, Olympia Odos brought about a revolution in domestic trips, since it introduced, for the first time in Greece, the distance-based tolling, thanks to its innovative Hybrid tolling system. With this system featuring state-of-the-art technology available automatically by means of the OLYMPIA PASS Hybrid transponder, the actual distance traveled by the vehicle is calculated, making the toll charges proportional to the said distance.

This is a large social investment that dramatically changes the operation of motorways in Greece, creates the appropriate conditions for developing road tourism, while it also offers important benefits to local trips for the residents of the Peloponnese, since the discounts offered by the Hybrid system make the use of the motorway even more advantageous and of course much safer compared to the use of the rural network.

Motorway users enjoy the discounts offered by the Hybrid distance-based tolling system exclusively by using the OLYMPIA PASS transponder. The new and innovative technological system installed at the motorway entrances and exits calculates the kilometers traveled by the vehicle within a specific zone and automatically refunds the difference corresponding to the kilometers not traveled to the OLYMPIA PASS subscriber's account.


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Impact on Society

The Hybrid system falls within the scope of sustainable urban mobility policies, making Olympia Odos an integral part of the significant changes in the daily life of the citizens. The Olympia Odos "Hybrid System" addresses for the first time in Greece the issue of "free flow traffic" on the motorway, i.e. a trip without delays, where there are no barriers and the vehicle is not required to stop for any toll transaction.

The Hybrid system, by offering toll refunds, creates the appropriate conditions for the development of road tourism, actively supporting the tourist destinations connected by Olympia Odos.

However, what changes once and for all is the daily local trips of the inhabitants of the Peloponnese, as the Hybrid system makes the use of the motorway even more advantageous in terms of speed and safety, compared to the use of the rural network.

Olympia Odos started to design and then implement the specific project "Hybrid Kilometric Charging System" (Hybrid) immediately after the completion of the construction of Korinthos - Patras section, while the system was completed and installed at the end of 2020. This is the only new generation distance-based tolling system in Greece, a modern real-time toll calculation system that allows charging based on the distance traveled. The Hybrid System has been a great expectation for motorway users, and became a strong commitment of Olympia Odos and a practical proof of its fair, customer-oriented and innovative character.

For the first time in Greece, the Hybrid system deals with the socially fair charging issue and ensures that the users pay only for the distance they have traveled. It is a project with social benefit within the context of the commitment undertaken by the Greek Government for a fair tolling based on the distance traveled. The Hybrid System already attracts local customers/users to the motorway while reducing the number of road accidents.

Benefits for the Users

In addition to the fair charges, the system: 

  • Ensures up to 76% lower charges;
  • Ensures the free flow traffic along the motorway, i.e.  trips without delays, where the vehicle is not required to stop for any toll transaction;
  • Aims to attract users from local communities who currently use the service road network, thus reducing the number of accidents on the national road network;
  • Is expected to increase the use of transponders, while reducing travel time;
  • Rewards private car drivers as, when used in combination with the distance-based tolling and the VALUE discount scheme, they benefit from additional scalable discounts depending on the frequency of motorway use.
  • OLYMPIA PASS transponder subscribers automatically enjoy Hybrid refunds without any action required on their part.
  • The system recognizes the vehicle's transponder when it arrives at the toll station of the motorway and charges the toll for the respective zone it passes through. The big difference made by the system, however, is that now at the motorway exits there are electronic devices that re-identify the vehicle and if it has not traveled the full charging distance, then the amount is immediately and automatically refunded to the user's account.
  • Drivers’ experience greatly improved.  No need to stop or to proceed with any action. Thanks to a combination of transponders, cameras and vehicle classification devices, the eligible refund is automatically calculated


Initiative Location

Greece, in the key geographical areas covered by and crossed by the concession project.


Working with Organization


Workers Participation

The involvement of the employees in this action has been crucial to its success. The whole organization worked hard to deliver the project that redefines the way motorway concession projects operate.


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Benefits for Οrganization

Olympia Odos is one of the most important national strategic projects for the development of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, and Epirus. At the end of 2020, Olympia Odos introduced, for the first time in Greece, the distance-based tolling thanks to its innovative Hybrid tolling system, the most modern system to calculate tolls in real time, to calculate the kilometers traveled by a vehicle and to automatically refund the difference to the OLYMPIA PASS subscribers’ account.

The Hybrid System has been a great expectation for motorway users, and became a strong commitment of Olympia Odos which started planning and then implementing such a System right after the completion of the construction of Korinthos - Patras section. It is a project with social benefit within the context of the commitment undertaken by the Greek Government for a fair tolling (based on the distance traveled).

Thanks to this initiative, offered only by Olympia Odos, the organization becomes a pioneer in the eyes of users, the State and society. This huge social investment is radically changing local and inter-regional trips and the overall operation of motorways in Greece. Olympia Odos became the organization that changed once and for all the perception that users have of motorways.




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