In January of next year, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) will increase tolls by 5%.
As a result of ongoing debt repayment, the resulting debt service, as well Act 44 financial plan, a 5% toll increase was approved this past July by commissioners. Rates on the PA Turnpike will remain mid-range compared to the national average. Officials at PTC say that a straight 5% increase won’t be felt by all customers in 2025 due to other changes approved to modernize rates.
“As Commissioners, this is the most challenging vote we make each year, as required to continue the repayment of Act 44 and 89 obligations,” said Commissioner Sean Logan. “We work every day to ensure our customers receive value for their tolls, including 24-hour roadside assistance, a dedicated maintenance force to keep the roadway clear of debris, trash and snow, and a reconstruction program aimed to decrease congestion and increase rideability and safety.”
About 84% of E-ZPass and 74% of Toll By Plate (TBP) trips will see a toll cut or an increase of under $1 in 2025 and about 70% of commercial vehicles will see an increase of $5 or less. The standardization of rates and the move to Automatic Vehicle Classification (AVC) will not result in additional revenues for the Turnpike beyond the 5% increase approved for 2025. The change in vehicle classification will have a limited impact on non-commercial customers; most widely impacting commercial customers who primarily travel the PA Turnpike empty, said turnpike officials.
Open Road Tolling (ORT) is the culmination of a decade-long effort to modernize the 560+ miles of PA Turnpike. ORT charges tolls electronically as customers drive at highway speeds beneath overhead structures, called gantries, without slowing down or stopping. The commission said the gantry and roadway equipment classifies and identifies vehicles and electronically processes tolls, resulting in free-flowing traffic: reducing accidents, improving the environment, and allowing new access points.
The ORT will launch on the mainline PA Turnpike east of Reading along with the Northeast Extension in 2025, and statewide in 2027. Until gantries are operational, tolls will still be charged as interchange-to-interchange trips, but based on the new rate structure, according to turnpike officials.
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