Rates to change on Turnpike; major changes coming to toll system
Millions of travelers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will see a slight decrease in rates as the new year opens following a decision to modernize the toll system.
Last July, Turnpike commissioners approved a new base per-mile rate of 7 cents in addition to a $1.09 fee per segment for E-ZPass customers that will go into effect on Sunday, Jan. 5. Toll By Plate customers are slated to pay double that rate.
The rate standardization means that nearly 50% of passenger car trips will see a lower rate in 2025. According to a news release, 84% of E-ZPass and 74% of Toll By Plate trips will see a toll cut or increase of less than a $1 this year.
While most travelers will benefit from the changes, commissioners still approved a straight 5% toll increase to keep up with ongoing debt repayment.
However, according to Turnpike assistant press secretary Crispin Havener, not all customers will feel the same effects from that marginal uptick.
“Essentially what will happen is, the Turnpike will get a 5% revenue increase,” Havener said. “That’s our goal for this, but not everybody is going to be feeling that the same way.”
The adjustments were made in anticipation of the Turnpike’s switch to an open road tolling system, which will charge customers electronically as they drive at normal speeds beneath overhead structures called gantries. It will erase the need for travelers to slow down or stop at tollbooths.
Beginning on Jan. 5, open road tolling will commence on the Turnpike east of Reading and on the northeast extension. According to Havener, the new system will be implemented statewide in January of 2027.
As of now, the toll increases for the Turnpike overtime are projected to be 4% in 2026, 3.5% in 2027 and 3% from 2028-2050 to meet debt obligations that were passed along from the state.
Amy Pack, who recently became president of the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau, said she doesn’t expect a noticeable shift one way or the other when it comes to Butler County travel.
“I think every consumer keeps that (the rates) in mind,” she said. “I don’t foresee a huge change for us. Seems like the corporate traffic will still continue to come as it does. The leisure traffic is usually based on an activity people want to do. If it helps their wallet a little bit to have a toll increase, that’s always a positive thing.”
Travels can plan the cost of each trip through the Turnpike’s toll calculator at paturnpike.com.
