Pennsylvania Turnpike Tolls Rise 25%

At 12:01 a.m. on January 4, 2009, toll costs along the PA Turnpike rose 25%, in conjunction with Act 44, signed into law in July 2007. Under Act 44, the PA Turnpike Commission is to provide a total of $2.5 billion in transportation funding for roads, bridges, and mass transit from August 2007 to May 2010. The toll increase is only the sixth rate change in more than 68 years. As a result of this increase, projected annual gross toll revenue will rise from $619.2 million (end of fiscal year 2008) to approximately $738.4 million (projected 2010 fiscal year end). It is also the beginning of a gradual PA Turnpike toll increase of 3% every year beginning in 2010.

The PA Turnpike Commission originally had planned to implement a toll increase in January 2010. However, the transportation funding crisis in the Commonwealth spurred the passage of Act 44 over a year ago and the new toll-rate structure. The most common toll paid by passenger vehicles will go from $0.75 to $0.95, while a typical semi-truck’s tolls will rise to $7.85, up from $6.25. Turnpike officials due not expect any significant, prolonged drop-off in business, mainly due to their experience with a 42% toll hike back in 2004. While there was a short-term downturn in passenger car volume, it was more than off-set by the continued increases in commercial vehicle traffic.

PA Turnpike CEO Joseph Brimmeier pointed out that beyond 2010, the Turnpike will provide the state with $450 million per year even if I-80 is not tolled. The PA Turnpike has also adopted a 10-year, $4.6 billion capital improvement program to maintain “America’s First Superhighway”. Transportation industry experts have estimated that every $1 billion in new funding for roads and bridges results in the creation of nearly 32,000 new jobs. For more information about the toll increases or to calculate your new toll costs before a trip, click here to go to the PA Turnpike website.