Turnpike toll increase starts Sunday
America’s oldest super highway increased its tolls for the 16th straight year on Sunday, Jan. 7, and will continue to rise until 2053 — when an $8 billion deficit is paid off.
“Unfortunately, that means toll increases each year through the remaining lives of the bonds,” said Michael Carroll, Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission chairman and PennDOT secretary, in July. “But the good news is those increases will drop from 5% to 4% in the 2026 fiscal year, then 3.5% the following year, and 3% in 2028 and beyond.”
The Butler Eagle reported in July the commission announced a 5% increase for E-Z Pass and Toll By Plate customers.
According to the Turnpike Commission, the most common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase from $1.80 to $1.90 for E-ZPass customers and from $4.40 to $4.70 for Toll By Plate customers.
Revenues and traffic are both up, according to Pennsylvania Turnpike spokesperson Crispin Havener.
“From Jan. 1 through Dec. 1, the Turnpike saw more than 192 million customers use our more than 560 miles of roadway, a 3.3% increase in volume compared to the same period in 2022,” Havener said.
The commission’s operating expenses for its 2023 fiscal year came in about $60 million under budget, with a 5% revenue increase from the previous fiscal year.
AAA spokesman Jim Garity said it is too early to tell if the increased toll prices will have an effect on travel in Butler County.
“We keep tabs during the major holidays of the various economic factors, such as gasoline prices,” Garity said. “It’s too early to tell if the price increase is going to be a factor.”
Jack Cohen, president of Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, said it is unlikely the increased highway fee will have an impact on tourism in the area, but he thinks the increased toll could have another fallout.
“I truly think it’s going to affect goods coming across from the Turnpike,” Cohen said. “People are going to find other ways than the Turnpike and I think it’s going to make a difference.”
Cohen does think that there is one industry that could benefit from the price increase.
“It’s almost $100 to drive to and back from New Jersey,” Cohen said. “I could fly for the same amount of money.”
