Turnpike Tolls to Increase in January 2021

The Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission confirmed its movement to 100% cashless operations with approving a 6% toll increase for EZPass rates systemwide and establishing rates for the new PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE program. Rates for toll facilities newly converted to TOLL BY PLATE will increase by an average of 45 percent to reflect the costs for the new method. The rate changes will take effect on January 3, 2021. 

This means that the most common toll for a passenger vehicle will increase from $1.50 to $1.60 for E-Z Pass customers and from $2.50 to $3.90 for those choosing TOLL BY PLATE. The most common toll for a Class-5 tractor-trailer will increase from $12.20 to $13 for E-ZPass and from $17.30 to $26.60 for PA Turnpike TOLL BY PLATE customers.  

“The primary driver of the annual toll rate increases continues to be our quarterly transit payments to PennDOT and the resulting debt service that comes along with the legislatively mandated funding obligation,” said PA Turnpike CEO Mark Compton. “As a result, the PA Turnpike has delivered almost $7 billion in funding to PennDOT in the last decade, primarily to support mass transit operations in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.” 

Compton said the commission’s debt service costs on outstanding Act 44 bond debt are $440 million annually and growing; this amount must be paid each year even if the commission seeks, and is granted, deferment of a quarterly Act 44 payment — as it recently did to partially offset revenue impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to learn more.