Pa. Turnpike tolls increasing Jan. 7

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A 5% toll increase approved last year will take effect across the Pennsylvania Turnpike starting at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. 

The increase for E-ZPass and Toll by Plate customers was approved by the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) on July 18. The most common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase from $1.80 to $1.90 for EZPass 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 EZPass 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. 

E-ZPass drivers will continue to get the lowest rates, saving nearly 60% on tolls. Toll rates for travel on the PA Turnpike can be viewed on https://www.paturnpike.com/toll-calculator. 

“Our annual toll increases directly support the escalating Act 44 debt service we have had to manage due to the mandates of Act 44 of 2007,” PTC Chief Financial Officer Rick Dreher said in a statement. “However, even given that significant financial management challenge, our per-mile toll rates are lower than national toll averages and remain in the mid-range among the 47 toll roads in the U.S.” 

Pennsylvania’s passage of Act 44 of 2007 obligated the PTC to pay PennDOT $450 million per year to fund non-Turnpike transportation needs around Pennsylvania totaling $8 billion since 2008. The PTC raises tolls to pay the escalating Act 44 debt service due through 2051. 

Along with yearly toll rate increases, the PTC said it has taken steps to control costs to meet financial obligations, including refinancing debt at lower interest rates and generating over $1 billion in interest rate savings; controlling operating expenses to ensure the Commission is running leaner to support the costs of Act 44; cutting its 10-year Capital program by $1 billion and focusing on protection projects; identifying about $500 million of non-toll funding sources to pursue, including electric vehicle chargers at service plazas and commercializing the fiberoptic network being installed across the system. 

“Our goal is to be good stewards of the customers’ dollars and we are doing so by controlling costs, operating a safe and reliable road with premium services, funding transportation projects across the commonwealth and reinvesting back into our system,” PTC Chief Executive Officer Mark Compton said. “The pace and scale of our toll increases are directly attributable to Act 44.” 

Currently, commercial traffic volumes are up 14.5 percent versus pre-pandemic levels and passenger traffic is approximately 95 percent of the pre-pandemic peak with customers reporting their choice to travel the Turnpike is based on safety, convenience, and responsiveness to their roadway needs. 

Construction supporting the PA Turnpike Commission’s conversion to Open Road Tolling (ORT) is underway in the eastern part of the state with the construction of over-head gantries and support buildings. 

The change will go into effect in January 2025 on East of Reading interchanges and along the Northeastern extension and will be launched in 2027 on the remainder of the system.