Pa. Turnpike Commission Approves 6 Percent Toll Hike And 45 Percent Non-E-ZPass Surcharge

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Drivers will be paying more when they hit the Turnpike next year.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission approved a 6 percent toll increase for all E-Z Pass users today. You'll see the 6 percent increase whether you're an E-ZPass user or just have a picture taken of your plate and get a bill in the mail.

The other charge is a 45 percent surcharge to cover the higher cost of processing and mailing bills since the Pa. Turnpike switched to all electronic tolling.

Cash is no longer accepted, with the exception of six tolling locations including the Beaver Valley Expressway on 376, the Gateway Toll Plaza on the Ohio border, the Greensburg Bypass and Southern Beltway. That's because these locations already had toll by plate in place before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

To break it down, the toll will cost a passenger vehicle with an E-ZPass $1.60, going up by 10 cents. If you don't have an E-ZPass and get the toll by plate rate, it will cost you $3.90 instead of the original $2.50.

The Turnpike commission said the main reason for the annual toll-rate hike is mainly due to its quarterly transit payments to PennDOT.

The Pa. Turnpike has delivered almost $10 billion in funding to PennDOT over the last decade, mainly to support operations in both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The increases go into effect on Jan. 3 of 2021.