Thirteen is an unlucky number — at least for Pennsylvania Turnpike drivers.

In the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission's 13th consecutive annual rate increase, drivers will pay at least 6 percent more to drive on the thoroughfare. The bills will increase by more than 50 percent for non-E-ZPass drivers, although with an additional charge added to Toll-by-Plate customers. That additional charge averages 45 percent on top of the 2020 cash rate.

According to the commission, that increases the most common toll for a car from $1.50 to $1.60 using an E-ZPass, or from $2.50 to $3.90 without. An invoice sent to customers who used the Toll-by-Plate mechanism will present to them the option to open an E-ZPass account and pay the significantly lower rate.

This is an excerpt from a larger article that appears in Wednesday's Butler Eagle. Subscribe online or in print to read the full article.