Politics & Government

Turnpike Tolls to Increase in 2013

E-ZPass trips will cost 2% more, cash trips 10% more. What's your reaction? Tell us in the comments below.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) announced Friday afternoon that it had approved toll increases for 2013.

Starting Sunday, Jan. 6, drivers will see a 10 percent increase if paying cash, or 2 percent if paying through an E-ZPass account.

The new rates are projected to bring in 3 percent more revenue and nudge drivers toward the E-ZPass system. Drivers paying electronically with E-ZPass will pay 25 percent less than those who pay in cash, up from 17 percent in 2012, and the annual fee will drop from $6 to $3 for noncommercial customers.

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“Implementing this toll increase generates the needed revenue to satisfy our annual transportation-funding obligation of $450 million to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, while at the same time helping to boost enrollment in E-ZPass, which has been a longtime commission priority,” PTC chief Roger E. Nutt said in the release.

Last year, the PTC raised cash tolls 10 percent but . According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "[2013] will be the 5th consecutive year of toll increases on the turnpike." 

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The PTC is also encouraging drivers to enroll in its electronic payment system by adding E-ZPass-only interchanges, like in East Whiteland Township, Chester County.

According to PTC spokesperson Mimi Doyle, there are all-electronic interchanges already open in Fort Washington, Montgomery County, and Bensalem, Bucks County, with yet another planned for the Poconos region of the Northeast Extension.

The commission also selected a contractor to expand its electronic-payment system, according to the release:

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission also selected a program manager to lead the potential implementation of a cashless, All-Electronic Tolling (AET) system. The commission voted unanimously to engage HNTB Corp. after a competitive process. HNTB is an internationally-recognized firm with deep experience in tolling. The firm has offices in Philadelphia, Norristown, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh; the AET project will be managed from HNTB’s Harrisburg office.

The full release from the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is attached to this article.


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