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The tolling and road-user-charging community gathered in Norfolk, Virginia this week for the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Finance & Road User Charging (RUC) Summit, an event that has become one of the most influential forums for shaping the financial and operational future of roadway revenue. Hosted by Elizabeth River Crossings and the Virginia Department of Transportation, the Summit brought together more than 120 organisations from across the United States and beyond, uniting CFOs, policy leaders, technologists and tolling executives for three days of strategic dialogue.
This year’s Summit carried a particular sense of urgency. With federal funding pressures intensifying, electric vehicle adoption accelerating and states exploring new revenue models, the industry is confronting a moment of structural change. The conversations in Norfolk reflected a sector not merely adapting but actively redesigning the financial architecture of American mobility.
The opening sessions set the tone. The traditional fuel-tax-based funding model, long the backbone of U.S. transportation finance, is no longer sustainable. As one speaker put it, “We’re not planning for the future anymore, the future is already here and the revenue model has to catch up.” The widening gap between infrastructure needs and available funding is pushing agencies to rethink long-held assumptions and explore new mechanisms with renewed seriousness.
Road usage charging dominated much of the discussion, reflecting its growing prominence in state-level policy and planning. While RUC pilots have been running for years, the tone in Norfolk suggested a shift toward operational readiness. States are no longer asking whether mileage-based charging is viable, they are asking how to implement it at scale.
Sessions explored transition pathways from fuel tax to RUC, the equity implications of mileage-based charging and the privacy frameworks required to build public trust. Interoperability emerged as a major theme, with agencies recognising that RUC cannot succeed as a patchwork of incompatible state systems. Several states presented updates on their pilots, with early findings showing strong potential for fairness, transparency and long-term stability.
One delegate summarised the mood neatly: “RUC isn’t a theory anymore. It’s a tool and we’re learning how to use it.”
Managed lanes remain a cornerstone of revenue strategy for many agencies and the Summit’s dedicated track reflected the complexity of operating these systems in a politically sensitive environment. Discussions ranged from dynamic pricing algorithms to public communication strategies, with a strong emphasis on equity and access.
Speakers highlighted the need to balance operational efficiency with public acceptance. The challenge is not simply to operate managed lanes effectively, but to articulate their value in a way that resonates with the travelling public. As one panellist noted, “Managed lanes work, the challenge is telling the story in a way that resonates with the people who use them.”
The sessions also explored how managed lanes can integrate more effectively with transit, HOV policies and broader multimodal strategies, a recognition that priced lanes are increasingly part of a larger mobility ecosystem.
The Summit’s finance track tackled the evolving risk environment facing tolling agencies. CFOs discussed the impact of interest rate volatility on capital programmes, the pressures on credit ratings as revenue models shift and the growing recognition of cybersecurity as a core financial exposure. Inflation continues to affect construction and operational costs, prompting agencies to rethink long-term financial planning.
The message from finance leaders was clear, resilience will depend on flexibility, scenario modelling and a willingness to rethink long-standing assumptions. Agencies are increasingly turning to data-driven forecasting and diversified revenue portfolios to navigate uncertainty.
Technology providers and consultants played a prominent role throughout the event, reflecting the increasingly digital nature of tolling and RUC operations. Exhibitors showcased advancements in automated tolling systems, cloud-based back-office platforms, data analytics for revenue assurance and new tools for fraud detection and enforcement.
Agencies shared early results from modernisation programmes that have reduced operating costs while improving accuracy and compliance. The industry is moving toward a more integrated operational model, one that supports interoperability, reduces leakage and enhances customer experience.
The Summit opened with a technical tour of the Hampton Roads Bridge–Tunnel Expansion Project and Elizabeth River Crossings, one of the most significant infrastructure undertakings in the region. For many attendees, the tour served as a tangible reminder of what is at stake: large-scale, high-impact infrastructure that requires stable, predictable funding to build and maintain.
The HRBT project, with its complex engineering and multi-modal significance, exemplifies the type of investment that future revenue models must support.
Beyond the formal sessions, the Summit’s networking events (including the waterfront evening at Norfolk’s Harbor Club), reinforced the collaborative spirit of the tolling and RUC community. With more than 120 organisations represented, the conversations extended well beyond the scheduled agenda, covering procurement strategies, public engagement, enforcement challenges and the future of interoperability.
IBTTA’s leadership emphasised the importance of these connections, particularly as agencies face shared challenges that require coordinated solutions.
As the Summit concluded, several themes stood out. The revenue model for U.S. roads is undergoing a fundamental transformation. Road usage charging is moving rapidly toward operational deployment. Managed lanes remain a critical tool but require careful communication and equity-focused design. Financial resilience will depend on diversification and data-driven planning. And technology is becoming the backbone of modern tolling and RUC systems.
The mood in Norfolk was one of urgency, but also of confidence. The industry understands the scale of the challenge and is mobilising to meet it. As one attendee remarked, “We’re not just funding roads. We’re funding mobility, equity, resilience and the future of how people move.”
The IBTTA Finance & RUC Summit made it clear that the future of roadway revenue is being built now and the decisions made in rooms like these will shape the mobility landscape for decades to come.
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