Recently the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) gave approval for a 5% toll increase. This new change will go into effect in early 2022. Keep reading to understand how this change may affect you.
When Does It Go Into Effect?
The PA Turnpike toll increase will become effective on January 2, 2022, at 12:01 am.
How Will It Affect Drivers?
On July 6, 2021, PTC gave the go ahead to increase the toll by 5% in the year 2022. This will affect Toll by Plate and E-ZPass customers commuting on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. This increase will apply to the entire turnpike except for a west Pittsburgh section i.e. Southern Beltway, PA Turnpike 576.
Here are the most prominent changes to E-ZPass that will take effect after January 2, 2022.
- A class-5 tractor-trailer will pay now pay a toll of $13.70 instead of $13.
- Toll by Plate drivers will now have to pay a toll of $28 instead of $26.60.
- Other passenger vehicles with E-ZPass will increase, and they will pay $1.70 starting 2022.
- Passenger vehicle E-ZPass will now pay $4.10 instead of $3.90.
- If you regularly commute through the toll situated at the westbound Delaware River Bridge, you will be paying $6.50 for an E-ZPass. Whereas, a toll by plate will cost you $8.70 by 2022.
Reasons Behind the Increase
This latest increase in toll prices became a necessity as the Turnpike Commission needed help with meeting their funding obligations. This increase will help PTC collect the money that will go towards their last annual payment to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The total amount PTC pays right now stands at $450 million per year.
However, this payment will increase as the world celebrates the dawn of 2022. According to PennDOT Act, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission will have to pay $50 million per annum. However, the $400 million will come from the funding from motor vehicle sales as well as Use Tax in the Commonwealth.
According to Mark Compton, the CEO of the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission, the passing of this bill is the first time that the commission is increasing the toll under 6%. He further adds that finally, a silver lining has appeared on the horizon, as this is the last payment they make towards the PennDOT Act 2007.
In the last 14 years since signing the contract with PennDOT Act, 2007, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission has paid $7.45 billion in the form of toll-backed funding.
Relief for Customers in the Future
The CEO of PTC is also hopeful that as we come out of this payment, it will let us give a huge relief to our customers in the near future. It will enable us to give relief to our drivers and commuters from these high toll prices.
Summing Up
If you are a resident in Pennsylvania or a regular commuter on the PA Turnpike, it’s important to remember that the toll prices will go up at 12:01 am from January 2, 2022. If you have any special vehicle type, you can access the Pennsylvania Turnpike toll Calculator to calculate your toll amount.
Reference URLs
https://www.paturnpike.com/press/2021/20210706153011.htm
https://www.pennlive.com/news/2021/07/pa-turnpike-approves-toll-increase-for-2022.html