Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Orders Fares Printed on Toll Tickets

HARRISBURG, PA (12/22/2010)(readMedia)-- The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission (PTC) yesterday reversed a recent staff decision and ordered fares to once more be printed on the Turnpike toll tickets as soon as possible.

PTC staff had ordered new toll tickets for 2011 without the fares as part of the agency's ongoing efforts to save costs. Staff estimates are the agency would save up to $100,000 annually by printing tickets without listing toll rates, which are set to rise each year under Act 44 of 2007.

"Our staff made the decision not to print fares on tickets to cut costs, in particular as more people sign up for E-ZPass and fewer people take tickets," said CEO Joe Brimmeier. "However, we heard loud and clear from our customers that we got ahead of ourselves on the decision, so the commissioners directed us to order a new batch of toll tickets with fares shown."

Turnpike officials are working with the printing company to get the new tickets ready as quickly as possible. The commission hopes to accelerate the process, which can typically take between four to six months, and make the new tickets available by March or April, 2011.

In the mean time, the tickets without the new fares (a 10 percent increase for cash-paying motorists and a 3 percent increase for E-ZPass users) will be issued to cash-paying customers at entry beginning Jan. 2, 2011, the effective date of the toll increase.

Until then, the Turnpike will continue to inform customers of fares by having printed schedules available at interchanges that customers can obtain by asking the toll collector at exit. Turnpike travelers can also see the new fare schedule by visiting www.paturnpike.com and selecting the "Toll-Info" menu item on the left or by calling the toll-free, hands-free TRIP line, 1-866-976-8747 (TRIP).

"We will get the new tickets with fares in toll booths as soon as humanly possible, and will have them in place well before our heavy travel season which begins on the Memorial Day weekend," said Brimmeier.

Fares on the Turnpike will rise each year as part of Act 44 of 2007. Under this law, the Turnpike provides funding for highway and bridge projects in all 67 Pennsylvania counties. In addition, the added revenue will be used for an ambitious capital program on the Turnpike itself, with investment of $4.5 billion planned over the next ten years.

"We encourage all of our customers to consider using E-ZPass, which allows drivers to pass through toll booths without stopping," said Brimmeier. He noted E-ZPass has always been an easier, more convenient way to pay tolls, "and now, with a 7 percent discount on tolls starting soon, travelers will have a financial incentive to sign up for E-ZPass."

Customers can set up an account in minutes by visiting www.paturnpike.com or calling 1-877-736-6727; the cost to establish an automatically replenished account with a credit or debit card is just $35 from which your tolls will be deducted, plus a $6 annual membership fee. (If you sign up before Jan. 1, the initial annual fee is only $3.)