Politics & Government
All-Electronic Tolling Coming to PA Turnpike
By 2018, cash will no longer be accepted at tolls, says a Turnpike official.
The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission plans to remove the 76 toll plazas and toll collectors along the 545-mile stretch of road spanning the commonwealth, opting instead for an All-Electronic Tolling system (AET).
AET would require the construction of an overhead toll gantry on the turnpike or on entrance and exit ramps and turnpike spurs, according to a feasibility study.
For motorists traveling with no E-ZPass, a camera will capture the vehicle’s license plate and a bill will be mailed to the registered owner.
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“When we covert to all-electronic tolling, those (non-E-ZPass) vehicles are going to be post-billed, so the commission, in order to not risk revenue loss, is going to want to increase E-ZPass usage so more people are paying,” DeFabo said.
Before moving to electronic system, the turnpike is embarking on a marketing campaign to increase E-ZPass use to 85 percent of turnpike travelers; currently 70 percent of turnpike drivers use E-ZPass.
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Reasoning for implementing the AET includes safety, less delay for travelers, elimination of backups at tollbooths, a “greener” approach and a reduction in “footprint,” and reduced operating costs.
For more on the conversion, visit the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s website.
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