Pennsylvania Turnpike Panel Approves Toll Increases

This story appears in the July 26 print edition of Transport Topics. Click here to subscribe today.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission said it approved toll increases, effective Jan. 2, though it has yet to set the exact rates.

However, the commission said all drivers — including truck drivers — who use E-ZPass will likely see about a 3% increase over current rates, while those who use cash will face an increase of about 10%.

Currently, heavy trucks traveling the length of the turnpike from the entrance at Warrendale, Pa., to the Delaware River crossing into New Jersey pay $137.76 using E-ZPass, or $137.80 when paying cash.

Based on the commission’s 3% and 10% approximations, trucks will pay about $141.89 with E-ZPass and $151.54 without one next year.

Some truckers have complained that their contracts with shippers are for several years and are based on current toll rates, meaning they will have to absorb the added cost.

But Jim Runk, president of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, said the turnpike’s toll rate system is “a pretty good deal” for truckers who have E-Pass.

“But if you don’t have E-ZPass, then you better get one,” Runk said.

Almost two-thirds of all travelers who pay tolls on the turnpike have E-ZPass, said the commission, which added that electronic toll payments have less overhead costs than cash collections.

Besides the lesser toll rates for E-ZPass users, Runk said the commission also has helped truckers in another way by maintaining its long-standing volume discounts for large trucking firms that are heavy users of the roadway.

The large carriers get discounted toll rates based on how much they pay in tolls a month, Runk said.

Because smaller carriers that do not make as many turnpike trips could not meet the thresholds for the discounts, the PMTA negotiated with the turnpike commission to create a second discount system.

Under the auspices of the truck association, Runk said, the smaller carriers are allowed to pool their volume of toll payments with those of other small carriers so that they also can enjoy the discounted rates.

Under the new toll schedule for 2011, however, the discount schedule will change.

For those companies that currently pay between $1,000 and $5,000 a month in tolls, the discount will drop to 5% from 10%. For companies that currently pay between $5,000 and $10,000 a month, the discount will drop to 10% from 15%. For companies currently paying $10,000 or more a month, the discount will drop to 15% from 20%.

The toll rates are being raised in accordance with Act 44, which the state adopted in 2007. The first increase was in 2009.

ACT 44 set up a funding agreement under which the turnpike commission is to pay $450 million annually to the state Department of Transportation over the remaining 47 years of the agreement.