PA Turnpike Commission Approves 6% Toll Increase

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) has approved a six percent toll increase for both E-ZPass and cash customers. The increase is set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. on January 8, 2017.

According to PTC Chairman Sean Long, the toll increase, like other annual increases since 2009, is necessary to help pay back the borrowing required to meet the PTC’s funding obligations; like rebuilding and widening and PA Turnpike system and providing funding to the commonwealth to support public transportation.

“Last fall, the PA Turnpike observed our 75th anniversary; while that is a great accolade, it means that parts of our system have outlived their design life and are in dire need of replacement,” Chairman Logan said. “Revenues from this increase will fund a newly approved, 10-year spending plan which invests more than $5.77 billion in our system in the coming decade — a large part of which will support ongoing total reconstruction and widening projects.”

According to officials, revenues from the 2017 increase will also allow the PTC to fund its annual requirement to support off-Turnpike ground-transportation enhancements.

Commissioners, in addition to the toll increase, have also ordered a system-wide reassessment of all Turnpike improvement projects in both the design and construction phases to confirm that the best fiscal decisions are being made.

“I have directed executive staff to perform a comprehensive reevaluation of all highway and bridge projects, including those now under way, to ensure we are focusing on projects that are the most relevant to our strategic objectives,” Chairman Logan explained. “Every project will be analyzed as part of this review. No project will be exempt.”