The Planning Board approved Kapsch’s proposal for an E-ZPass testing site in the parking lots on land leased from Arthur Greene, across King’s Highway from the former American Candle Manufacturing building.
Kapsch will locate its test area in the back portion of the lot near the CSX railroad tracks.
Cars will be driven under a 30-foot-tall gantry that simulates a fully-equipped tollbooth to test software and other components, said David Vega of Kapsch, an Austrian company that manufactures components used in the Thruway’s E-ZPass system.
No manufacturing would occur at this site, which is strictly a test site that Vega estimates would be used one week out of each month.
Vega could not offer a date for when the test track would open, but he was excited to receive approval and is eager to begin testing at the site.
The board’s conditional approval allows it to examine the operation again after two years, said Howard Post, chair.
Post is excited about welcoming a new business to this lot, noting that it has been a vacant eyesore for many years.
“It’s great to see this property in use again,” he said. “It’s a good use for it.”
Join the family! 
