The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission today approved a 5% toll increase in July 2023 that is set to start on January 7, 2024. The new toll prices impact all E-ZPass and Toll By Plate customers.
According to the announcement, the most-common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase from $1.80 to $1.90 for E-ZPass customers and from $4.40 to $4.70 for Toll By Plate customers. The most-common toll for a Class-5 tractor trailer will increase from $14.40 to $15.20 for E-ZPass and from $29.40 to $30.90 for Toll By Plate. After the increase is applied, E-ZPass and Toll By Plate rates for passenger and commercial vehicles will round up to the nearest dime.
“As in previous years, the PTC [Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission] is obligated to raise rates annually as part of its legislative mandate to provide PennDOT supplemental funding for transit systems around the state as outlined by Act 44 of 2007,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “While these payments were once $450 million a year, they have been reduced to $50 million annually. However, our organization had to borrow to make those payments, which total nearly $8 billion.”
Within the announcement it states that due to the Act-44 funding plan required borrowing by means of 30-year bonds, the PTC is obligated to increase tolls annually through at least 2053. The 5% toll-rate increase continues the Commission’s planned, multi-year reduction in annual increase rates with a goal of getting to 3% in 2028.
“We recognize that our customers pay a premium when they choose to travel on the PA Turnpike,” Compton said. “In return, we endeavor to provide a dependable, premium experience that gets our customers safely to their destinations in a timely fashion.”
Compton added that, despite ongoing toll increases, the PA Turnpike’s per-mile passenger rate continues to be below the national average when compared with other U.S. tolling agencies. Among 47 toll road, bridge, and tunnel operators in the U.S., the PA Turnpike’s E-ZPass passenger rate of 15 cents per mile is nearly 20% below the national average of 18 cents. Likewise, the PA Turnpike’s E-ZPass commercial rate of 55 cents per mile is 12% below the national average of 62 cents per mile.
For the current toll calculator click here Toll Calculator | PA Turnpike.
Photo: Google