Pa. Turnpike tolls go up this weekend

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission is reminding drivers that a six percent toll increase for E-ZPass and cash customers will take effect this weekend.

At 12:01 a.m. on Jan. 3, increases will begin on Turnpike tolls. The increase impacts both cash and E-ZPass users equally but E-ZPass customers will save as much as 35 percent on Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls.

Once new rates begin, a Class-1 vehicle, such as a car or SUV, will increase from $1.09 to $1.16 for E-ZPass customers and $1.70 to $1.80 for cash customers. For tractor trailers, these tolls will increase from $9.05 to $9.59 for E-ZPass customers and from $12.80 to $13.60 for cash customers.

“The 2016 toll increase — like other annual rate hikes since 2009 — is needed, in part, to repay the substantial borrowing required to meet the PTC’s financial obligations under state laws signed in 2007 and 2013,” said PTC Chairman Sean Logan of Monroeville. “Act 44 of 2007 requires the PTC to make annual payments of $450 million to PennDOT used mostly for statewide mass transit operations; under this law, the PTC has transferred nearly $5 billion to date to PennDOT for off-Turnpike use.”

According to a press release, payments are to be reduced in 2022 from $450 million a year to $50 million a year, however, because Act 89 does not ease the associated debt or eliminate the funding requirement, the commission is obligated to increase tolls annually for the foreseeable future.

Recent toll increases are also funding the reconstruction and widening of the 550mile Pennsylvania Turnpike system, parts of which turn 75 years old Oct. 1.

“The PTC launched a vigorous plan to rebuild and expand the Turnpike, investing more than $600 million a year in improvements,” said Logan. “About 450 miles of the Turnpike must be rebuilt from the ground up and widened from four lanes to six; thus far, the commission has reconstructed more than 117 miles– leaving 333 miles yet to be rebuilt.”

The PTC has focused on cost-saving measures to mitigate yearly increases.

Today, 75 percent of Turnpike users choose to pay with E-ZPass, which has been available on the Turnpike for more than 15 years. PTC manages 1.7 million active E-ZPass accounts, with nearly 2.4 million transponders in circulation.

Turnpike travellers can get an E-ZPass at www. paturnpike.com or by calling 1-877-PENN-PASS. E-ZPass “GoPaks” can also be bought at Pennsylvania retailers including Acme, Giant Eagle, Walmart, Wegmans and GIANT Food stores.

E-ZPass accounts cost $38 to set up with a credit or debit card if the customer is choosing the auto-replenish option; the cost includes a $35 prepaid toll balance plus a $3 annual service fee. A one-time convenience fee will be applied when purchased at retailers.

To check both 2015 and 2016 toll rates for all classes,visit the online toll calculator at www.paturnpike.com/toll/tollmileage. aspx.